Ranjith Remanded In Alleged Sexual Harassment Case; Know Earlier Allegations Against Director

Ranjith Remanded In Sexual Harassment Case: Malayalam filmmaker Ranjith has been remanded to judicial custody for 14 days in connection with a sexual harassment complaint filed by an actress. The director was produced before a magistrate following his arrest and has been shifted to the Ernakulam Sub Jail as part of further legal proceedings.

According to a report by Asianet News, Ranjith was taken into custody the previous night. Soon after his arrest, he reportedly experienced physical discomfort and was moved to a government hospital for medical attention before being presented before a magistrate. His legal team reportedly indicated that a bail application will be filed in the coming days.

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Malayalam Director Ranjith Arrested In Alleged Sexual Harassment Case; What Actress Has Alleged?

The arrest comes amid indications that the director had been anticipating police action. Reports suggest that steps were being considered to seek anticipatory bail when authorities moved forward with the arrest. It is also reported that, following legal advice, he attempted to evade arrest by abandoning his own vehicle and travelling in another car with a colleague. Police tracked this movement and intercepted him, leading to his detention.

The case pertains to allegations made by an actress who has alleged that the filmmaker attempted sexual assault during a film shoot. Investigators have been examining the circumstances surrounding the incident, which is alleged to have taken place inside a caravan on set. Police inquiries have also looked into the events of the day and statements from individuals present at the shooting location.

Initial findings suggest that some crew members were aware of the situation at the time, though there may have been an assumption that the actress would not formally raise a complaint. According to the report by Asianet News, officials reviewed multiple aspects of the case, including whether there were any professional disagreements between the director and the complainant. As per the report, the actress had been cast in a significant role in the project and had completed a substantial portion of her scenes. After assessing the details, investigators proceeded with the arrest.

Earlier Allegations Against Ranjith

This is the third case registered against Ranjith. Earlier allegations include a complaint by a Bengali actress, who in 2024 claimed that he behaved inappropriately and attempted sexual assault during the 2009 shoot of 'Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha' in Kochi. While a charge sheet had been filed, the case was later quashed by the High Court on procedural grounds related to the limitation period.

In a separate case, a young man from Kozhikode accused the director of sexual assault in Bengaluru in 2012. He alleged that he was invited to the city after meeting Ranjith during the shoot of Bavuttiyude Namathil. That case too was eventually dismissed by the Karnataka High Court, citing a significant delay in filing the complaint.

With the present complaint now under investigation, authorities are continuing to examine evidence and statements related to the case.