Mumbai: The Kerala police had filed a case against filmmaker Ranjit, marking the first legal action in a series of sexual harassment allegation within the Malayalam Film Industry. The case came to highlight when Bengali Film actress Sreelekha Mitra lodged a complaint to the Kochi city police commissioner.
According to the complaint, which was sent via E-Mail, Mitra alleged that Ranjit had touched her inappropriately with sexual intention during an invitation to act on his 2009 film Paleri Manikyam.
Kochi Police Commissioner S. Syamsundar confirmed that the case has been registered under IPC Section 354, which pertains to assault or criminal force against a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty.
Mitra recounted the incident, stating that RanjithтАЩs behavior made her uncomfortable. She explained, тАЬThe person concerned is a prominent figure in the Malayalam film industry. I went to his residence to discuss a film project, but his subtle advances made me feel uneasy.тАЭ
Following the allegations, Ranjith resigned from his position as chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy, citing concerns that continuing in the role could negatively affect the reputation of the Left government.
In response to the allegations, Ranjith has dismissed them, asserting that he is the true victim in this case.
Ongoing Issues in Mollywood
The allegations against Ranjith are part of a larger scandal involving several figures in the Malayalam film industry. Actor Revathy Sampath has accused veteran actor Siddique of both mental and physical assault, an incident she claims occurred when she was 21 years old. Siddique has since resigned from his role as the general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) and filed a counter-complaint against Sampath.
Additionally, actress Minu Muneer has accused prominent actors M Mukesh, Jayasurya, Maniyanpilla Raju, and Idavela Babu of physical and verbal abuse, which she detailed in a Facebook post. Another junior artist has accused actor Baburaj of sexual assault, a claim Baburaj has denied, suggesting it is an attempt to undermine his candidacy for a leadership position within AMMA.
Political and Public Response
The wave of allegations has prompted criticism from opposition parties, who accuse the Kerala government of shielding the accused. In response to mounting pressure, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has formed a seven-member special investigation team to look into the allegations against the actors.
The investigation is expected to provide more clarity on these serious accusations and their impact on the Malayalam film industry.
