Thiruvananthapuram: In a scene that resembled a crime thriller movie, controversial Malayalam actor Shine Tom Chacko leaped out of the window on the third floor of a hotel in Kochi Wednesday night to escape from a police team that had come to check for the presence of narcotic substances.
The actor reportedly landed on the parapet of the second floor and then jumped into the hotel’s swimming pool. He was later spotted on CCTV fleeing the hotel’s lobby and then vanished.
Though no drugs were found in his room, the police are contemplating issuing a summons to ask the ‘missing actor’ on his stunt and whether it was a drug-impaired misconduct.
The dramatic escape happened during an inspection by the District Anti-Narcotic Special Action Force (DANSAF) team. Shine has been in and out of drug scandals.
His escape follows a complaint by actor Vincy Aloshious that Shine had misbehaved with her during the shooting of a movie reportedly under the influence of drugs. She had detailed the incident in a petition to an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA).
If the ICC’s examination reveals a cognisable offence, the police can conduct a preliminary probe even in the absence of a complaint from the alleged victim, sources said.
Vincy also found support from Minister for Culture Saji Cherian who said “Vincy Aloshious has set a brave example by coming out in the open.”
Sources said Shine is currently absconding and will be questioned once located.
Meanwhile, Shine’s mother, Maria, told the media that her son may have fled out of fear. “Did they (the DANSAF team) find anything in his room? I know him well. He might have been frightened. The police were not in uniform,” Maria told the media.
Shine was arrested in 2015 for allegedly possessing drugs. In February 2025, Shine, along with all the other accused, were acquitted by the Ernakulam Additional Sessions Court. The court, however, criticised the police for procedural lapses during the arrest which led to the acquittal.
