Sexual assault case: Film director Ranjith moves Kerala HC seeking anticipatory bail plea

Kochi Islands: Malayalam film director Ranjith on Tuesday approached the Kerala High Court seeking interim bail in connection with a sexual abuse case.

Ranjith resigned as the chairperson of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy last month following pressure from various quarters after the Bengali actress revealed that she was called to an apartment in Kochi in 2009 where Ranjith had ‘misbehaved’ with her.

Ranjith’s troubles began days after the release of the Justice Hema Commission report, which detailed the widespread sexual exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry.

The case against him was registered with the Ernakulam city police station based on an email complaint from the actress.

However, Ranjith in his bail plea rejected all charges against him, saying he became “suspicious” after 15 years.

He alleged that a section of the Academy was plotting to remove him from office.

The Hema Commission report found that women in the film industry face numerous problems, including sexual demands, sexual harassment, gender discrimination, lack of safety in the workplace, inadequate basic facilities and wage gaps.

So far, FIRs have been registered against nine film stars, including Mukesh, Siddique, Jayasurya, Edavela Babu, Maniyan Pillai Raju, directors Ranjith, VK Prakash and production heads Vichu and Noble, after female actresses filed complaints.

Among those termed as ‘exploiters’ by victims, Mukesh was granted interim relief against his arrest till Wednesday, even as his petition is scheduled to be heard in a lower court on Tuesday.

The Vijayana government has appointed a seven-member police investigation team, including four women IPS officers, to record statements of the victims.

So far, none of the “exploiters” have been summoned to appear before the investigation team.

The BJP and the Congress alleged that the Vijayana government is hand in hand with the criminals, while they themselves claim that they are hand in hand with the victims.