Objective is to free state of drugs: Min

Kochi: Excise minister MB Rajesh said on Sunday that the woman actor, who had claimed that a co-actor misbehaved with her under the influence of narcotics on a film set, would cooperate with police investigation on this matter. She had filed a complaint over the incident with the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce and AMMA but refused to name the actor publicly.

Rajesh said the govt was waging a war against drug abuse. "We have already made our stand clear and there is no exception for any sector in this fight against drugs. Our objective is to free the state completely from the clutches of drugs. There won't be any consideration for the film sector or celebrities. Drugs are seen as a social evil and it will be dealt with strongly. I once said that it will be crushed with an iron fist and that remains our stand. We will also make society rally for the cause," the minister said.

"Raid will be carried out wherever it is needed. Govt or enforcement agencies won't consider any information as trivial. I talked to the actor and appreciated her for her strong stand. Her decision to not act alongside those who use drugs is a brave one taken with conviction. Everyone in the film field should adopt such a stand. She informed me that she would cooperate with probes in this regard. She also mentioned that the facts she already revealed would be shared anywhere. She doesn't have any confusion in this regard. My understanding is that she is a woman with strong determination," Rajesh said.

It is up to everybody in the film field to protect those who adopt such brave decisions, Rajesh said. "It's the responsibility of those in the film sector to ensure she is not kept away because of this stand. It is also the responsibility of the organisations in the film sector," the minister added.