Malayalam filmmaker Ranjith sent to judicial custody

Malayalam director Ranjith was remanded to 14-day judicial custody in a sexual assault case filed by a young actress. Police arrested him after an attempted evasion, while the Kerala government assured strict action and support for the survivor

Kochi: Malayalam Film Director Ranjith has been remanded to 14 days in judicial custody in connection with a sexual assault complaint filed by a young actress, even as the Kerala government asserted its firm support for the survivor and promised strict legal action.

Produced before a magistrate, Ranjith was remanded and is set to be moved to the Ernakulam sub jail. His lawyer told the media that a bail application would be filed soon.

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The director was arrested late Tuesday night. Following his detention, he reportedly experienced physical discomfort and was briefly shifted to the General Hospital. The police action came at a time when efforts were underway to secure anticipatory bail.

According to investigators, Ranjith had been alerted in recent days about possible police proceedings. As the probe intensified, his legal team allegedly advised him to go into hiding.

He then attempted to evade arrest by abandoning his vehicle and fleeing in another car with an associate, a move tracked by the police, leading to his arrest from Thodupuzha.

Investigators said people present on the shooting set on the day of the alleged incident were aware of developments but assumed the young actress might not pursue a complaint.

Police examined multiple angles, including whether there were disputes over film roles. However, it was found that the actress had been assigned a prominent role and that most of her portions had already been shot.

After ruling out the possibility of a false complaint, police proceeded with the arrest.

Reacting to the developments, Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian said the government stood firmly with the survivor. He described the allegations as serious and said any wrongdoing, if proven, was unacceptable.

The minister clarified that Ranjith had been appointed to a key cultural position based on his contributions to cinema, but stressed that no individual would be above the law.

Cherian urged survivors to come forward and not withdraw complaints, assuring institutional support. He added that three senior police officers had been specifically tasked with handling such cases, underlining the government’s commitment to ensuring women’s safety.