Deva actor Rohullah Mehdi arrested: How a social media drug probe led Mumbai Police to Shahid Kapoor's co-star

One moment, he was reportedly shooting for a project in Mumbai. The next, he was being escorted into police custody.

Actor and model Rohullah Mehdi, known to many viewers for playing Rohanj Bhai in Shahid Kapoor's action thriller Deva, has been arrested by Mumbai's Kashimira Police Crime Branch in connection with an alleged narcotics case. Investigators claim the arrest is linked to a suspected drug supply network that was allegedly operating through social media platforms such as Snapchat and WhatsApp.

The case has drawn attention not only because of Mehdi's connection to the film industry, but also because it highlights how law enforcement agencies are increasingly tracking alleged drug transactions that begin online.

Who is Rohullah Mehdi?

Rohullah Mehdi is an actor and model originally from Budgam in Jammu and Kashmir who has been based in Mumbai. Apart from appearing in web series, he was seen in Shahid Kapoor's Deva, where he played the character Rohanj Bhai.

Until this weekend, he was a relatively lesser-known face in the entertainment industry. His name is now making headlines for an entirely different reason.

What exactly are the allegations against him?

According to police documents cited by multiple media outlets, Mehdi has been named as the main accused in FIR No. 437/2026, which relates to an alleged narcotics supply network operating in Mumbai's Mira Road-Kashimira region. Investigators claim they received intelligence suggesting that MD (Mephedrone/MD) drugs were allegedly being marketed and supplied through social media platforms.

It is important to note that these are allegations made by investigators. The case remains under investigation, and Mehdi is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

How did Mumbai Police reach Rohullah Mehdi?

According to police accounts reported by NDTV, investigators first acted on a tip-off about alleged drug sales being coordinated online. Officers then reportedly deployed a decoy customer as part of a trap operation.

Police say a man identified as Kasif was called to deliver 28 grams of MD near Thakur Mall at Dahisar Check Naka. After he was apprehended, investigators claim he identified Mehdi during questioning.

Based on that lead, officers moved quickly.

Where was the actor arrested?

According to police, Mehdi was arrested outside a studio in Malad, where he was reportedly in the middle of a shoot. The arrest has since become one of the most talked-about entertainment stories of the weekend because of the dramatic circumstances surrounding it.

What did police recover in the case?

Investigators say they seized 28 grams of MD drugs, with an estimated value of approximately ₹5.6 lakh. Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the case so far.

The seizure forms the core evidence in the ongoing investigation.

What happens next in the investigation?

Following his arrest, Mehdi was produced before a court, which remanded him to five days of police custody. Investigators are now trying to establish the alleged supply chain, identify possible buyers and suppliers, and determine whether additional individuals may have been involved.

Police are also examining whether the alleged network had any wider links, including possible connections to individuals in the entertainment industry. Officials, however, have not publicly named any other suspects.

Why is this case attracting so much attention?

Mumbai has seen several high-profile narcotics investigations involving people connected to the entertainment world over the past few years. While many cases have resulted in prolonged investigations rather than convictions, each new arrest tends to reignite public debate about the intersection of celebrity culture, social media and illegal drug networks.

In the Rohullah Mehdi case, the combination of a film actor, an alleged social-media-based supply chain, and a studio-set arrest has turned what might otherwise have been a routine police operation into a national headline.

For now, the focus shifts from the film set to the investigation room, where Mumbai Police will attempt to answer the question that remains unresolved: was this an isolated arrest, or the beginning of a much larger network being uncovered?

(With inputs from yMedia and agencies)