Malayalam film and television actor Aswathy Babu was arrested on Sunday, 16 December, from Thrikkakara at Kochi in Kerala for being in possession and attempting to sell illegal drugs. MDMA worth several lakh rupees was found in her possession. The Kochi police also arrested her driver Binoy Abraham along with her, according to multiple reports.
The 22-year-old actor and her driver were arrested and booked after the police reportedly seized 58 grams of MDMA, a psychedelic party drug, based on a tip off about them. They were arrested from her flat in Kochi, while they were waiting to deliver the drug to a customer.
The police decided to raid the Thiruvananthapuram based actor’s flat, based on a tip off given to them about the parties that take place inside the flat.
On further probe, it was found out that the actor’s driver helped her get drugs from Bengaluru for her.
Further probe will also be conducted to uncover the whole network, which the police suspect is huge. Last year, drugs worth Rs 280 crore were seized by the excise department in Kochi alone, reports state.
Aswathy, who is from Chingavanam in Kottayam, was doing minor TV roles. She recently rented a flat in DD Golden Gate in Palachuvadu which is where she was arrested.
Thrikkakkara police SI Shaiju AN said that the police had been monitoring her for the past few weeks following information that she had been in possession of illegal drugs. The duo was arrested from their flat’s basement while the driver Binoy was handing over the stuff to Aswathy, according to The Times of India.
(This article has been published in an arrangement with The News Minute)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)