‘Bailable case’: Kerala HC closes bail plea of ​​beleaguered director Ranjith

Kochi, Sep 4 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a relief to Malayalam film personality Ranjith, who is accused of sexual assault in a case filed by a Bengali actress, the Kerala High Court on Wednesday dismissed his anticipatory bail plea. The court held that the offence under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code under which he was arrested was, at the time it allegedly occurred, eligible for bail.

The counsel for the director, producer and actor submitted that since the case pertained to the year 2009 and since Section 354 (use of force to outrage a woman’s modesty) had become a non-bailable offence only in 2013, the police would treat the case against Ranjith as bailable and that court permission is not required for Ranjith’s release on bail.

The High Court subsequently decided to reject Ranjith’s plea for pre-arrest bail after recording the statement of the prosecution on this aspect.

Ranjith resigned as the chairperson of the state-run Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. Shortly after the Justice Hema Committee report came out last month, which revealed allegations of abuse and sexual exploitation in the Malayalam film industry, a Bengali actress filed a complaint against him, alleging that she was forcibly assaulted by him in a Kochi apartment in 2009.

He soon filed a request for interim bail.

Even after he stepped down as chairman, Ranjith vehemently denied wrongdoing and alleged that there was a section of the Academy that was waiting for his downfall.

There has been unrest in the Malayalam film industry since the release of the Hema Committee report on August 19, with several actresses filing complaints against top figures in the industry. The Kerala Police have so far registered FIRs against 11 people, including 10 from the film industry. Those in the dock include actor-turned-CPI-M legislator Mukesh Madhavan, Siddique, Jayasurya, Edavela Babu, Maniyanpilla Raju, directors Ranjith, VK Prakash and production heads Vichu and Noble.

On Tuesday, star Nivin Pauly was accused by a woman of sexual assault that took place in the UAE when she met them after being offered a role in a film. Pauly dismissed the accusation as baseless and vowed to fight it out, but the woman has accepted his challenge and said she will also fight to prove what she suffered.

Actor Baburaj and director Tulasidas have been named in complaints, but no FIRs have been registered against them so far. Meanwhile, the special investigation team of 7 police officers, four of whom are women IPS officers, is currently taking statements of the victims who have come forward with their complaints, but the victims who have been charged are yet to be questioned.

Source: IANS

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