Published Apr 01, 2026 | 9:32 AM ⚊ Updated Apr 01, 2026 | 11:02 AM
Ranjith Balakrishnan.
Synopsis: A court in Kerala remanded veteran Malayalam film director Ranjith to 14 days of judicial custody following his arrest in a sexual harassment case. An FIR was registered at the Ernakulam North Women’s Police Station under charges related to sexual assault and outraging the modesty of a woman.
A court in Ernakulam in Kerala, on Wednesday, 1 April, remanded veteran Malayalam film director Ranjith Balakrishnan to 14 days of judicial custody following his arrest in a sexual harassment case filed by a female actor. He was produced before a magistrate early on Wednesday after undergoing a medical check-up at Ernakulam General Hospital.
He was later shifted back to the hospital before being taken to the Ernakulam Sub Jail. Ranjith’s legal team is expected to move a bail application on Wednesday itself.
According to police sources, he has not been cooperating with medical procedures. Doctors advised a CT scan following fluctuations in his blood pressure (BP), but he reportedly refused. He also declined to take blood pressure medication despite repeated spikes in his BP levels.
Ranjith, a former chairman of the Kerala State Chalachithra Academy, was arrested by the police on Tuesday night following a sexual harassment complaint filed by a young female actor.
The arrest was carried out by the Ernakulam Central Police, who took Ranjith into custody from Thodupuzha in Idukki district, reportedly after intercepting his vehicle during transit. After completing the initial formalities at Thodupuzha Police Station, he was handed over to Kochi City Police.
An FIR was registered against Ranjith at the Ernakulam North Women’s Police Station under charges related to sexual assault and outraging the modesty of a woman. According to the complaint, the alleged incident took place inside a caravan on a film set in Fort Kochi in January.
The actress submitted her complaint to the Kochi City Police Commissioner, after which the case was formally registered.
The complainant’s statement was recorded over two days, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Kochi City Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Aswathi Jiji. Police sources said the investigation was carried out with a high degree of secrecy.
After recording the actor’s statement in detail, police conducted a preliminary verification and concluded that there was sufficient basis to proceed further.
The probe was overseen only by Kochi City Police Commissioner S Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar and DCP Aswathi Jiji, with no additional officers involved in the process. Even several senior police officials were reportedly unaware of the developments until news of the arrest emerged.
Investigators are also examining reports that efforts had been made to resolve the issue privately before it was brought to the attention of the police.
Police sources told South First that he allegedly tried to evade arrest after learning about the police action. Ranjith was detained along with actor Bobby Kurian and another person who was accompanying him.
Fresh details have surfaced from the remand report against filmmaker Ranjith, with police stating that the alleged incident occurred on 30 January inside a caravan.
According to the report submitted before the magistrate, police also referenced two prior cases against the director. Investigators informed the court that granting bail at this stage could potentially affect the progress of the case.
The Judicial First Class Magistrate Court will also consider Ranjith’s bail plea on Wednesday. His legal team is expected to highlight his medical condition during arguments, noting that he has previously undergone a liver transplant as well as spinal surgery.
Speaking to the media, Ranjith described the case as an attempt to “destroy” him.
Meanwhile, sources close to the director have claimed that the complaint may have been motivated by personal grievances, alleging that the actor was asked to leave an ongoing film project of Ranjith due to unsatisfactory performance.
However, police said they didn’t receive anything to corroborate this claim
Meanwhile, Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) General Secretary B Unnikrishnan said that it had given a proposal to the FEFKA Directors’ Union and FEFKA Writers’ Union to initiate action against Ranjith following the allegations.
Unnikrishnan also added that no complaint has been filed with the ICC. He added that the executive committee of the respective unions will meet online and discuss the issue
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman and Dileep V Kumar.)
