Director Ranjith resigns as film academy chairman after harassment claims

Thiruvananthapuram: Movie director Ranjith has stepped down as the chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy after Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra alleged he had made sexual advances towards her in 2009.

Ranjith’s resignation came after the Communist Party of India (CPI), which is part of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), called for investigation into Mitra’s allegations, according to India Today.

However, CPM initially tried to protect the director with Culture Minister Sji Cheriyan saying that Ranjith is a renowned artist, adding that action will be taken if allegation are proved.

Following protests, the minister changed his stand and there were widespread calls for Ranjith to resign as the film academy chairman.

Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra revealed that after being invited to act in the film Paleri Manikyaam, he touched her hands and hair pretending to be admiring her bangles.

She left the room when he tried to touch her neck and afterwards, she returned to Kolkata without acting in the film, adding that Ranjith had not sexually assaulted her but his behaviour suggested the same.

The Left sympathizer also said that there are practical difficulties in taking legal action from Bengal.

The allegation against him surfaced alongside the Justice Hema Committee report, which has triggered a controversy in the state.

The report revealed widespread casting couch practices, sexual abuse and pay disparities in Malayalam movie industry.

Meanwhile, actor Siddique resigned as the general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) on Sunday after a young actress raised sexual assault allegations against him.

Siddique reportedly submitted resignation to AMMA’s president Mohanlal via email which read: ‘I am stepping down from the position in light of the allegations against me’.

Revathy Sampath accused the actor of sexually assaulting her in 2016, adding that a few of her friends had similar experiences with him.