Director Ranjith Seeks Anticipatory Bail Following Sexual Harassment Allegations

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SEPTEMBER 03,2024

Malayalam director Ranjith Balakrishnan has found himself embroiled in a sexual harassment scandal following allegations by a Bengali actress. The actress, Sreelekha Mitra, claims that Ranjith invited her to his flat in 2009 under the pretext of discussing a movie project. During the meeting, the director allegedly made inappropriate advances towards her, attempting to touch her inappropriately.

Ranjith files for anticipatory bail after a complaint of sexual harassment filed against him

Following the actress's allegations, Ranjith resigned from his position as the chairperson of the Kerala Chalachithra Academy. He has since moved the Kerala High Court seeking anticipatory bail, arguing that the alleged incident occurred 15 years ago and that his custodial interrogation would be unnecessary.

He also claims that the actress harbours resentment towards him as she was not selected for the movie and has been instigated to file this complaint by those who wanted to remove him from his position.

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The actress recounted her ordeal recently, stating that she managed to escape the situation and later confided in a scriptwriter. However, she was unable to pursue legal action against Ranjith at the time due to various challenges. Encouraged by the public release of the Justice Hema Committee Report, which exposed widespread sexual abuse in the Malayalam film industry, the actress decided to come forward with her experience.

In addition to the allegations by the Bengali actress, another aspiring male actor has accused Ranjith of sexual misconduct. The actor claims that the director called him to a hotel in Bengaluru in 2012, asked him to strip, and took his nude photos. The photos were allegedly sent to a well-known veteran female actor, who has denied the allegations.

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The aftermath of the Hema Committee Report

The Justice Hema Committee Report, which was released in August 2024, shed light on the rampant sexual abuse and "casting couch" practices prevalent in the Malayalam film industry. The report highlighted the numerous challenges faced by women in the industry, including sexual demands, harassment, gender discrimination, and unsafe work environments.

Following the release of the report, several FIRs have been registered against nine film personalities, including Ranjith, Mukesh, Siddique, Jayasurya, Edavela Babu, Maniyan Pillai Raju, directors V. K. Prakash, and production executives Vichu and Noble. As the investigation into these allegations continues, the Malayalam film industry grapples with a reckoning of its past and seeks to address the systemic issues that have allowed such abuses to persist.