Kochi: Malayalam film director Ranjith has been remanded to 14 days in judicial custody in connection with a sexual assault complaint filed by a young actress, while the Kerala government affirmed its firm support for the survivor and promised strict legal action.
Ranjith was produced before a magistrate and remanded to be moved to the Ernakulam sub-jail. His lawyer informed the media that a bail application would be filed soon.
The director was arrested late Tuesday night. Following his detention, he reportedly experienced physical discomfort and was briefly shifted to the General Hospital.
Police action came as efforts were underway to secure anticipatory bail. Investigators stated that Ranjith had been alerted in recent days about possible police proceedings. As the probe intensified, his legal team allegedly advised him to go into hiding.
He reportedly attempted to evade arrest by abandoning his vehicle and fleeing in another car with an associate. Police tracked the movements, leading to his arrest in Thodupuzha.
Investigators noted that people present on the shooting set during the alleged incident were aware of developments but assumed the young actress might not pursue a complaint. Police examined multiple angles, including whether there were disputes over film roles.
It was found that the actress had been assigned a prominent role, and most of her portions had already been shot. After ruling out the possibility of a false complaint, the police proceeded with the arrest.
Reacting to the developments, Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian said the government stood firmly with the survivor. He described the allegations as serious and stated that any wrongdoing, if proven, was unacceptable.
Cherian clarified that Ranjith had been appointed to a key cultural position based on his contributions to cinema but stressed that no individual is above the law.
The minister urged survivors to come forward and not withdraw complaints, assuring institutional support. He added that three senior police officers had been specifically tasked with handling such cases, underlining the government’s commitment to women’s safety.
With IANS inputs