Renowned Malayali filmmaker, scriptwriter, and former Kerala State Chalachithra Academy chairman Ranjith Balakrishnan, 61, has been remanded to judicial custody for 14 days following allegations of sexual harassment and attempted assault by a female actor during a film shoot.
According to police sources, the action was taken based on a complaint lodged by the actress, who alleged that Ranjith invited her to a caravan during shooting and behaved inappropriately.
Her statement was recorded at the Women’s Police Station on Monday, after which the authorities swiftly arrested the director. The case was filed with the Kochi City Police, and Ranjith is currently held in Thodupuzha, with plans to transfer him to Kochi for further investigation.
This marks the third time Ranjith has faced allegations of sexual misconduct. In 2024, he was accused of assaulting a male film artist near Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore in connection with an incident allegedly dating back to 2012.
In the same year, a Bengali actress accused him of inappropriate behavior during the casting of his 2009 film Paleri Manikyam, which he denied, stating she was only invited for an audition and not selected.
Authorities said the investigation and case proceedings are being conducted with strict confidentiality. The Kerala High Court had earlier rejected his anticipatory bail request, as the police considered the matter a non-bailable offense.
