In a dramatic turn in the ₹2 crore hybrid ganja case in Alappuzha, popular Malayalam actor Sreenath Bhasi has withdrawn his anticipatory bail plea from the Kerala High Court after the Excise Department confirmed he is not listed as an accused. The move comes as a relief to the actor, who had approached the court fearing arrest following reports linking his name to the drug seizure.
Earlier, Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan had directed the Excise Department to respond to the bail plea within two weeks, with the matter slated for further hearing on April 22. However, with Bhasi officially off the hook—for now—the actor has decided to pull back his plea.
The case originated with the arrest of Taslima Sultana and K. Firoz earlier this month, who were caught in possession of three kilograms of high-grade hybrid ganja. During interrogation, they allegedly named several individuals from the film industry, including Bhasi. Investigators also claimed to have found incriminating evidence on Taslima’s mobile phone.
In his now-withdrawn plea, Bhasi maintained his innocence, expressing concern that an arrest would derail the shoot of a film in which he plays the lead. He also cited potential physical and mental harassment if taken into custody and reiterated his readiness to cooperate fully with authorities.
