The case had drawn significant public and media attention at the time, marking a turning point in Kerala’s enforcement against drug-related offences.
Published Feb 11, 2025 | 2:11 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 12, 2025 | 12:29 PM
Shine Tom Chacko. (File photo)
Synopsis: Shine Tom Chacko and six others were acquitted due to a lack of evidence. The 2015 case was the first instance of cocaine possession in Kerala.
The Ernakulam Additional Sessions Court on Tuesday, 11 February, acquitted Malayalam actor Shine Tom Chacko and six others in a high-profile drug case registered in 2015.
The case, involving the seizure of cocaine from a flat in Kadavanthara, was Kerala’s first reported instance of cocaine possession.
The Kochi police had initially named eight individuals, including four women, as accused in the case.
However, the court cleared charges against seven of them due to a lack of sufficient evidence.
One accused remains outside the acquittal as the person did not appear for trial. A detailed court order is awaited.
The case dates back to January 2015, when Shine Tom Chacko, assistant director Blessy, and three models were arrested during a late-night police raid at a flat in Kadavanthara. TNIE reported that according to the prosecution, Okowe, Prithviraj, and Jasbir were accused of supplying 10 grams of cocaine to Reshma and Blessy. Shine and the four women were jailed for two months before securing bail from the Kerala High Court in March 2015.
Acting on a tip-off, the police recovered 10 grams of cocaine allegedly sourced from Goa. Statements of the accused were recorded following their detention.
The trial commenced in the Additional Sessions Court in October 2018, where around 25 witnesses were examined.
The blood test reports ruled out cocaine use, and the prosecution failed to establish that the traces of cocaine found in the apartment belonged to the accused.
The case had drawn significant public and media attention at the time, marking a turning point in Kerala’s enforcement against drug-related offences.
Shine Tom Chacko forayed into acting with director Kamal’s 2011 survival drama Khaddama and made his Tamil debut with Beast (2022). The Malayalam actor’s Telugu debut was Nani’s Dasara (2023).
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
