Sexual Harassment Allegations: Court Orders 14-Day Judicial Custody for Ranjith

Malayalam filmmaker Ranjith Balakrishnan has been remanded to 14 days judicial custody following his arrest late on Tuesday night in connection with a sexual harassment case. He was taken into custody in Idukki district after a woman actor lodged a complaint alleging that he attempted to harass her during the shooting of a film.

According to police reports, the actor stated that Ranjith had invited her to a caravan on set and then attempted to sexually harass her. She recorded her statement at the Women's Police Station in Kochi on Monday, after which the Kochi City Police registered a case and proceeded with the arrest.

The entire process was carried out discreetly, with Ranjith first taken to Thodupuzha police station before being handed over to Kochi Police. His arrest was formally recorded, followed by a medical examination, before he was produced before the magistrate.

This is not the first time Ranjith has faced such allegations. His name had previously surfaced in the Justice K Hema Committee report, which highlighted widespread harassment and abuse faced by women in the Malayalam film industry.

In 2024, a Bengali actress filed a complaint against him, alleging that he had touched her inappropriately after inviting her to act in his 2009 film Paleri Manikyam. That complaint was sent via email to the Kochi City Police Commissioner, leading to a case being registered.

The Kerala High Court later closed his anticipatory bail plea in that matter after police indicated they were considering treating the alleged offence as bailable. However, in October 2025, the High Court quashed the case altogether, citing the significant delay in filing the complaint. The case had been registered in August 2024, fifteen years after the alleged incident.

The complainant had spoken publicly about her experience following the release of the Hema Committee report, which prompted renewed scrutiny of the Malayalam film industry. Ranjith, who was then serving as chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy, resigned from his position amid the controversy.

Ranjith Balakrishnan is a prominent figure in Malayalam cinema, known for his collaborations with leading actors such as Mohanlal and Mammootty. He began his career as a scriptwriter before making his directorial debut in 2001 with Ravanaprabhu, a sequel to IV Sasi's classic Devasuram. Over the years, he has built a reputation as both a filmmaker and writer, contributing significantly to the industry's creative landscape.