Kochi: A Kochi court has remanded prominent Malayalam film director Ranjith to 14 days of judicial custody on Wednesday following his arrest late Tuesday night. The veteran filmmaker was taken into custody from the Idukki district in connection with an alleged attempted sexual assault. While being transported to the sub-jail, Ranjith maintained his innocence, telling reporters that the accusations against him are false and asserting that he would be able to prove his case in court.
The arrest follows a complaint from a woman actor who alleged that the director invited her to a film caravan during a shoot and attempted to sexually assault her. Kochi City Police Commissioner S. Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar stated that a Special Investigation Team was formed after the victim’s statement was recorded, and the allegations were discreetly verified before moving forward with the arrest. The commissioner noted that the incident occurred on a film set with several witnesses present, and emphasized that the victim had been significantly traumatized, requiring psychiatric treatment before gaining the strength to file a formal complaint.
The state government and industry bodies have responded swiftly to the development. Culture Minister Saji Cherian stated that such acts are unacceptable to society and that the government stands firmly with the victim. Meanwhile, the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) has recommended the suspension of Ranjith’s membership from both the directors’ and writers’ unions. This incident follows previous allegations of harassment against the director that surfaced in the wake of the Justice K. Hema Committee report, which exposed systemic abuse within the Malayalam film industry.
Ranjith, who served as the chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy from 2022 until his resignation in 2024, is now facing intense scrutiny as evidence collection progresses. Authorities confirmed that the director had allegedly attempted to flee the area prior to his capture. The police have reiterated their commitment to maintaining the confidentiality of the case while pursuing further evidence from the shooting set where the alleged assault took place.
