Malayalam director Ranjith arrested on sexual assault charges, remanded to custody

Renowned Malayalam director and producer Ranjith Balakrishnan has been arrested on charges of sexual assault. The arrest, which occurred on the evening of Tuesday, March 31, 2026, followed a complaint filed by a young female actor with the Kochi police. Ranjith was taken into custody in Idukki district and subsequently handed over to the Kochi City Police. The arrest was reportedly carried out with utmost secrecy under the direction of the Idukki district police chief to avoid public disruption. According to the complaint, the alleged incident took place on January 30, 2026, inside a caravan at a film shooting location in Kochi. The actor accused Ranjith of attempting to sexually assault her. The case has been registered at the Ernakulam North Women's Police Station under several non-bailable sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including those related to assault with intent to outrage modesty, sexual harassment, and acts intended to insult a woman's modesty. Following his arrest, Ranjith was produced before a magistrate and remanded to 14 days' judicial custody. He was initially taken to the Thodupuzha police station for formalities before being shifted to the Ernakulam Central Police for further investigation. He is currently held at the Ernakulam Sub Jail. Ranjith has denied the allegations, claiming he has been framed and that the charges are false. The arrest has also led to his suspension from the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA). FEFKA general secretary B Unnikrishnan announced that the suspension would remain in place pending the organization's internal proceedings, emphasizing that FEFKA follows a standard protocol of suspending members accused of sexual misconduct. The Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) has also reacted to the arrest, questioning the audacity of perpetrators and criticizing the alleged ineffectiveness of existing systems for women's safety in the industry, noting that the Internal Committee was reportedly unaware of the alleged assault. This is not the first time Ranjith has faced allegations of sexual misconduct. His name had previously surfaced in connection with the Justice K Hema Committee report, which investigated abuse in the Malayalam film industry. In 2024, a separate case was registered against him after a Bengali actress filed a complaint alleging inappropriate behaviour during the casting of his 2009 film 'Paleri Manikyam'. The Kerala High Court had previously quashed a sexual harassment case against him filed by another woman actor in October 2025, citing a significant delay in filing the complaint. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by the Kochi City Police Commissioner has been formed to investigate the case. The team will examine the circumstances of the alleged incident and record statements from those present at the shooting location. The incident has sparked discussions about accountability and the safety of women in the Indian film industry. The Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, stated that while he was not fully aware of the details, the authorities were handling the matter appropriately.

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