YouTube reviewer Aswanth Kok nabbed for drunk driving in Kozhikode

Popular YouTube film reviewer Aswanth Kok was taken into police custody on Monday after Eranhipalam police in Kozhikode said he was driving under the influence and endangering other motorists. The control room received a report of a vehicle moving dangerously near Eranhipalam Junction, prompting a police team to intercept the car. Officers found Kok inside the vehicle appearing inebriated and booked him for reckless driving. The senior officer who briefed the media said the arrest followed standard procedure for DUI offenses. Kok, who runs a widely followed YouTube channel reviewing Malayalam movies, has become a prominent voice in Kerala’s film commentary scene. His sharp reviews have attracted a large subscriber base across social platforms. The incident is not Kok’s first brush with the law. In 2023, Kochi City Police named him in a case filed after filmmaker Ubaini E. complained that online reviewers, including Kok, had coordinated negative reviews to damage the box‑office prospects of the film Rahel Makan Kora. The complaint sparked a broader debate in the state about “review bombing,” a practice where critics flood a new release with low ratings to deter audiences. ## Context The arrest highlights how public figures in the entertainment sector can face legal scrutiny for both personal conduct and online activity. In Kerala, debates over review bombing continue as platforms and creators grapple with the influence of social media on film revenues.