In a significant development, popular Malayalam actor Shine Tom Chacko has been granted substantial relief in a controversial drug case that stemmed from a dramatic hotel incident earlier this year. The turning point came with a forensic report that has explicitly stated no evidence of drug use was found in his body.
Forensic Findings Deliver a Clean Chit
According to official reports, samples of the actor's hair and nails were subjected to rigorous laboratory testing. The results from these tests conclusively returned negative, showing no traces of narcotic substances. Police sources have confirmed to media outlets, including Manorama Online, that the forensic science report does not support the initial claims of drug consumption.
With this crucial evidence, the case registered against Shine Tom Chacko and his friend Ahmed Murshad by the Ernakulam North Police under Section 27 of the NDPS Act is now likely to be dropped. The report fundamentally undermines the police's earlier assertion that his behaviour was linked to drug use.
The Kaloor Hotel Incident and Police Case
The entire episode unfolded in April when a DANSAF (District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force) team arrived at a hotel in Kaloor, Kochi. The team was pursuing an individual suspected of leading drug distribution networks in cities like Kochi. During their operation, they discovered that Shine Tom Chacko and a friend were staying at the same hotel.
When officials knocked on the door of his room, the actor made a dramatic escape by jumping through a rear window from the third floor. Subsequent CCTV footage captured him leaving the hotel premises and checking into another establishment. A search of the vacated hotel room, however, yielded no drugs.
The police had contended that Shine fled to avoid questioning, linking his escape to potential drug involvement. The actor, who went into hiding for two days before presenting himself for questioning, maintained a different stance. He stated that he did not know the people at the door were police officers and ran away fearing they were goons or intruders.
Past Legal Encounters and Moving Forward
This is not the first time Shine Tom Chacko has faced legal scrutiny in narcotics-related matters. His statement was previously recorded in a case involving a woman named Tasleema, who was arrested in Alappuzha with hybrid ganja, but he was found to have no connection to that incident.
More notably, the actor was arrested in a cocaine-related case registered in 2015. After a protracted legal battle lasting a decade, he was acquitted in 2025. That period was marked by personal tragedy when his father, Chacko, died in a road accident while travelling to Bengaluru as part of Shine's treatment journey. The actor has since spoken about recovering from addiction.
On the professional front, Shine Tom Chacko continues his work in the Malayalam film industry, with his recent project being the movie 'Adi Nasham Vellapokkam'. The latest forensic report brings a conclusive end to this chapter, legally vindicating the actor of the drug use allegations.
