The case will be transferred to the Special Investigation Team established by the Kerala government.
Who is Director Ranjith Balakrishnan? On Monday, the Kerala Police registered a non-bailable case against Malayalam film director Ranjith Balakrishnan following a complaint filed by a woman actor accusing him of sexual misconduct.
Ranjith Balakrishnan, who has denied the allegations, stepped down as the head of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy on Sunday in response to the accusations.
The complaint emerged after the release of the Justice Hema Committee report, which highlighted widespread sexual abuse and exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry. Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra recently spoke to the media, alleging that Ranjith had behaved inappropriately with her during the pre-production phase of the film Paleri Manikyam in 2009.
The Kochi city police have registered the case under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which addresses criminal force or assault against a woman with the intention to outrage her modesty. The FIR was filed under this section since the alleged incident took place in 2009.
The case will be transferred to the Special Investigation Team established by the Kerala government to investigate the various allegations that have surfaced following the release of the Hema Committee report.
Ranjith, in his resignation on Sunday, asserted that the allegations were part of a "concerted move" against him after he took on the role of chairperson of the academy.
Who is Director Ranjith Balakrishnan?
Ranjith Balakrishnan, commonly known as Ranjith, is a prominent Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, and actor, primarily associated with the Malayalam film industry. He is known for his impactful storytelling, strong characters, and his ability to address social issues through cinema.
Some of Ranjith's most acclaimed films include Nandanam (2002), Kaiyoppu (2007), Thirakkatha (2008), Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha (2009), Pranchiyettan & the Saint (2010), Indian Rupee (2011), and Spirit (2012). These films are known for their strong narratives, social relevance, and critical acclaim.
