Kochi: Malayalam actor Srinath Bhasi withdrew his anticipatory bail plea just hours after filing before the Kerala High Court. This step comes in view of the allegations that associate them with a drug case associated with the arrested Pedler Tslem Sultana.
Earlier in the day, Bhasi had shifted the High Court, fearing that he was arrested by the Kerala State Excise Department after media reports that Sultana had nominated him as a customer.
His petition cited a possible threat to arrest and sought security. The court accepted the petition and directed the product product to register its response within two weeks.
However, by Monday evening, Bhasi decided to withdraw the petition, obviously because the Excise Department had not yet nominated him as an accused in the case.
In his petition, Bhasi admitted to knowing a woman named Christina, who was found in Kozhikode a few months ago. He claimed that during his conversation, he received a message whether he wanted “Ganja”, to which he responded to “Wait”.
He also said that he identified the pediars arrested in the name of Taslem.
The excise department arrested Tslem Sultana and a companion on 1 April, working on a tip-off from a resort near Alappuzha.
Operation led the seizure of hybrid cannabis worth about Rs 2 crore in the open market. Officials said the arrest took place after a three -month long surveillance operation.
During interrogation, Sultana allegedly named several customers in the Malayalam film industry, including actors Shine Tom Chacko and Srinath Bhasi.
While neither the actor has been officially nominated as an accused, the authorities have indicated that they may be questioned as part of the ongoing investigation.
Sources say that digital forensic experts are now helping the excise team to receive messages removed from the accused’s phone, which can be important to establish the client network.
Originally asked to operate Sultana of Kannur from Chennai, who often travels to Kochi and Alappuzha – the hub for its distribution network.
Apart from his alleged involvement in drugs, he is also known for working in modest acting roles and assisted in film script translations, provided access to the film fraternity.
This is not his first brush with the law. There is a pre -record of joining a sex racket.
Actor Shine Tom Chacko has also faced investigation in the past. In 2015, he was arrested with four models for alleged cocaine possession, but was acquitted nearly a decade later due to lack of evidence.
Meanwhile, Bhasi was also facing inquiries last year regarding an NDPS case related to alleged gangster Om Prakash.
The Excise Department has expected more development in the coming days, with the film industry intensifies its investigation.
