Popular Malayalam filmmaker Ranjith was arrested Tuesday afternoon in connection with an attempted sexual assault, police officials said.
The actor has denounced the attempted attack on the caravan
According to PTI, the action follows a complaint filed by a female actor, who alleged that the director tried to sexually assault her during the shooting of a film. According to the police, the actress stated that Ranjith invited her to a caravan on the set, where the alleged incident took place.Ranjith was arrested from Idukki district. Officials have confirmed that he is in custody in Thodupuzha and is likely to be handed over to the Kochi City Police for further investigation.The Kochi City Police registered the case on Monday, after which the statement of the actress was recorded at a Women’s Police Station. The authorities said that the registration of the case and the subsequent procedures were done in strict secrecy.
Previous allegations resurface
Ranjith had earlier faced allegations of sexual harassment following revelations in the Justice K Hema Commission report on abuses in the Malayalam film industry.In 2024, a separate case was registered against him after a Bengali actor filed a complaint before the Kochi City Police Commissioner. The email complaint alleges that he touched her sexually in 2009 after inviting Pale to appear in the film Manikyam.The Kerala High Court closed his anticipatory bail plea after the police informed the court that they were considering treating the alleged 2009 crime as bailable.
