Shine Tom Chacko in Legal Hot Water: Vincy Aloshious Files Case Over Misbehaviour And Drug Use

Two days after Malayalam actress Vincy Aloshious accused a male co-star of drug abuse and inappropriate behavior on set, she has officially lodged complaints with both the film's Internal Complaints Committee and the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), identifying actor Shine Tom Chacko. The alleged incident is said to have occurred during the filming of Soothravakyam, in which both Aloshious and Chacko were involved.

Earlier, Vincy Aloshious shared a video on her social media, claiming that her co-star misbehaved with her under the guise of offering assistance. "When I had an issue with my dress, I went to fix it, and he said, 'I'll come and fix it for you,' in front of everyone. It was incredibly difficult to continue with the shoot after that," she recalled.

Vincy Aloshious revealed that she witnessed her co-star using drugs on set. "While we were rehearsing a scene, he was spitting a white powder onto the table. It was clear that he was using drugs during the shoot," she stated. Despite alerting the producers, the filming proceeded because the actor in question had a leading role.

Though Vincy Aloshious didn't explicitly name the person in her video, speculations pointed to Chacko due to their recent collaboration in the film. Chacko, who had been arrested in 2015 for cocaine possession after a police raid in Kochi, was acquitted earlier this year.

On Wednesday, CCTV footage surfaced allegedly showing Chacko fleeing a hotel in Ernakulam during a raid by the District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force (DANSAF).

Excise Minister M.B. Rajesh responded to the allegations, stating that the government has taken them seriously and further investigations will be conducted. This comes amid an ongoing government anti-drug campaign, with film industry leaders also acknowledging the issue of drug use on set, as highlighted in the Hema Committee report.

Regarding Chacko's prior acquittal, Rajesh attributed the outcome to a "major lapse" by the police, noting that the investigation occurred during the tenure of the United Democratic Front (UDF) government.

The Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) expressed support for Aloshious, commending her for her bravery in speaking out. "The Kerala High Court ruling ensures that every film set must have an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC). Women working in the industry must ensure their sets are compliant and report complaints of harassment to the ICC," stated the WCC. They emphasized the importance of a functioning ICC to protect the dignity and equality of female workers in the Malayalam film industry.