Ranjith, popular Malayalam film director, was sent to judicial custody on Wednesday, April 1, after being arrested late the previous night in connection with an attempted sexual assault case. He was produced before a magistrate and remanded for 14 days.
Soon after the remand, Ranjith maintained that the allegations against him were untrue. Speaking briefly to reporters while being taken into the sub-jail, he said the accusations were “false” and that he would be able to prove it, as per PTI.
Ranjith claims innocence as police detail investigation
Even as Ranjith denied the charges, Kerala Culture Minister Saji Cherian made it clear that the state stands with the complainant. “Such acts will not be accepted by the government or the society,” he said, adding that both the government and the police are with the victim.
According to the police, the woman actor who filed the complaint had been “traumatised” and required counselling and psychiatric support before she could come forward. Kochi City Police Commissioner S Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar said a Special Investigation Team was formed after her statement was recorded, and the allegations were verified before the arrest was made.
“It should not happen to any woman, especially at the workplace,” Kumar said, while also noting that maintaining the victim’s confidentiality remains a key priority. He added that there were multiple witnesses, as the alleged incident took place on a film set, and that evidence collection is ongoing. The officer also stated that the director had attempted to remove himself from the area.
Industry response and past allegations against Ranjith
The case has also drawn a response from industry bodies. The Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFK) has recommended suspending Ranjith’s membership from the directors and writers unions. General secretary B Unnikrishnan said there had been no complaint filed with the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) in this matter.
Ranjith was taken into custody from Idukki district on Tuesday evening, after which his arrest was formally recorded. The case had been registered a few days earlier based on the actor’s complaint, in which she alleged that he had called her to a caravan during a film shoot and attempted to sexually assault her.
The director has faced similar allegations in the past. His name had surfaced in discussions around the Justice K Hema Committee report, which examined harassment and abuse in the Malayalam film industry. In 2024, a separate case was also registered after a Bengali actress accused him of inappropriate behaviour, alleging that he had touched her with sexual intent after inviting her to act in the film Paleri Manikyam in 2009.
Ranjith had served as chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy from 2022 before stepping down in 2024 following earlier allegations. Addressing this, Cherian said the appointment had been based on merit at the time, and that there were no such allegations then. “He carried forward the academy in a good way. When such allegations came up earlier, he had left the position. We are viewing the repetition of the same allegations against him seriously. Neither the police nor the government is protecting him,” he said.
He also pointed to recent changes in the film sector, including policy measures and industry discussions, as factors behind the swift action in this case. “Let the investigation take its course,” he added, while encouraging others in the industry to come forward if they have had similar experiences, assuring them of support from the government.
Also read: Malayalam director-producer Ranjith arrested over alleged sexual assault of actress
