Sexual harassment accused director Ranjith seeks interim bail in Kerala HC – The Week

Popular Malayalam director Ranjith, who was booked under Section 354 of the IPC (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) in connection with allegations of sexual harassment by Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra, has approached the Kerala High Court seeking interim bail.

Moreover, a second case was filed against the director after a man from Kerala accused Ranjith of sexually assaulting him and sending nude photos of him to Revathi.

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According to Live Law, the director denied the allegations made against him by Sreelekha Mitra and said he was falsely accused.

Ranjith claimed that she was disappointed that she was not selected for a film role. Sreelekha Mitra had alleged that the director touched her inappropriately and with sexual intent after inviting her to act in the film Paleri Manikyamin (2009).

In addition, the director said that several other people were present in the apartment when the alleged incident occurred, but the actor remained silent on the matter.

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Ranjith said he had recently undergone surgery and was suffering from various ailments.

He stated that he was willing to cooperate with the investigation.

The principal also alleged that the case against him was being brought by people with vested interests who wanted him out of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy. Following these allegations, Ranjith resigned from his post as chairman of the academy.

The allegations of sexual harassment against Ranjith and several other well-known names in the Malayalam film industry emerged after the Justice Hema Committee, set up by the Kerala government following the 2017 actor assault case, released its report uncovering cases of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry.