Malayalam Director Ranjith Taken into Custody in Attempted Sexual Assault Case

Noted Malayalam filmmaker Ranjith was taken into custody on Tuesday evening in connection with an alleged attempted sexual assault case, police officials confirmed.

The action followed a complaint filed by a woman actor, who accused the director of attempting to sexually assault her during a film shoot. According to the police, the incident allegedly took place when Ranjith invited the actor to a caravan on set.

He was detained from Kerala’s Idukki district and is currently in police custody in Thodupuzha. Officials stated that he is likely to be handed over to the Kochi City Police for further investigation.

The woman’s statement was recorded at a Women’s Police Station on Monday, after which authorities moved swiftly to take Ranjith into custody. The case registration and subsequent proceedings were reportedly carried out discreetly.

This is not the first time the director has faced such allegations. His name had earlier surfaced in connection with claims of harassment highlighted in the Justice K Hema Committee report on issues within the Malayalam film industry.

In 2024, another complaint was filed by a Bengali actress, alleging that Ranjith had behaved inappropriately with her after inviting her to act in the film Paleri Manikyam in 2009. The matter had reached the Kerala High Court, which later closed his anticipatory bail plea after police indicated the alleged offence could be treated as bailable.