Malayalam filmmaker Ranjith Balakrishnan grabbed headlines after he was arrested over alleged sexual assault charges after a complaint was filed by an actress. He has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days and returned to the Ernakulam Sub Jail in Keralam. As per the latest update from news agency ANI, a Special Investigation Team has been formed following the arrest in connection with a sexual assault complaint, DCP Aswathy Gigi said.
The filmmaker was taken into custody from Thodupuzha after a young female actor accused him of sexually assaulting her during a film shoot. He was later produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody for 14 days. He is currently lodged in Ernakulam Sub Jail.
Gigi told ANI, "We got a complaint and registered an FIR on March 28. After that, we were reasonably convinced, after securing other evidence, that the accused had committed the crime. So, we went ahead with the arrest last night... A Special Investigation Team has been constituted..."
In her complaint, the actor alleged that Ranjith invited her to a caravan during the film's shoot and attempted to assault her. Based on her statement, a case has been registered under multiple sections, including outraging the modesty of a woman, sexual assault, wrongful confinement and making obscene gestures.
What Keralam CM said
Meanwhile, speaking on the arrest Keralam CM Pinarayi Vijayan said, "At the moment, I am not fully aware of the details regarding the issue, especially since the Model Code of Conduct is in force and matters are being handled accordingly. I do not have precise information about the complaint right now; like you, I have only read about it. As of now, no formal complaints have come to me regarding the action taken. In the absence of such complaints, it appears that the proceedings are moving forward in a proper manner."
This is not the first time that Ranjith has been accused of sexual misconduct. In 2024, he resigned as the chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy after a Bengali actress made harassment claims against him. Mollywood, apart from politicians, had a strong reaction with many actors and filmmakers publicly calling for his resignation. He denied the allegations.
