Ranjith arrested: Prominent Malayalam filmmaker Ranjith has been arrested following allegations of sexual assault made by a young female actor. The development has sent ripples across the Malayalam film industry, as the director-producer faces fresh scrutiny amid an ongoing police investigation.
According to a report by Mathrubhumi, the arrest was carried out by the Ernakulam Central Police with assistance from local authorities in Thodupuzha. Officials intercepted Ranjith while he was travelling through the town to attend a scheduled event in Idukki district. Police sources revealed that the operation was conducted with “utmost secrecy” on the instructions of the Idukki Superintendent of Police to avoid public disruption.
Following his detention, Ranjith was taken to the Thodupuzha police station for initial procedures. Authorities later transferred him to Ernakulam, where officers from the Ernakulam Central Police are continuing the investigation into the case.
Allegations linked to film set incident
The complaint that led to the arrest reportedly stems from an incident that occurred during the shooting of a film currently in production. The female actor alleged that Ranjith behaved inappropriately during the filming schedule.
Before approaching law enforcement, the complainant first filed a formal grievance with the production’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC). After reviewing the complaint, the committee referred the matter to the Kerala Police for further action.
Officials have stated that the preliminary inquiry was handled with strict confidentiality to protect the privacy of the individuals involved. Sensitive details surrounding the complaint have not been publicly disclosed at this stage.
Ranjith’s previous controversy resurfaces following arrest
The arrest has also renewed attention on a previous controversy involving Ranjith. In 2024, he stepped down as chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy following harassment allegations raised by Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra. At the time, the filmmaker denied the accusations and defended himself publicly.
Responding to those earlier claims, Ranjith had said, “A Bengali actor, Sreelekha Mitra, has raised very serious personal allegations against me. This has been happening for some time. To be precise, since the time I took over as the chairman of Kerala Chalachitra Academy, a group of people have been trying for a long time. This allegation [of Sreelekha] that came out before the public is a result of this.”
His resignation had followed widespread calls from members of the film fraternity, including filmmaker Dr Biju, who urged accountability.