The chargesheet includes a list of 36 witnesses and outlines allegations made by a female Bengali actor, who accused Ranjith of misbehaving with her during an audition for the film Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha in 2009.
Published Nov 17, 2024 | 10:16 AM ⚊ Updated Nov 17, 2024 | 10:16 AM
Ranjith Balakrishnan.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Kerala Police led by Assistant Inspector General (AIG) G Poonguzhali, probing the sexual harassment allegations in the Malayalam film industry, submitted a chargesheet against director Ranjith Balakrishnan.
It was filed in the Ernakulam Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on Saturday, 16 November, and marks a significant development in the case registered under IPC Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 509 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) against the director.
The chargesheet includes a list of 36 witnesses and outlines allegations made by a female Bengali actor, who accused Ranjith of misbehaving with her during an audition for the film Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha in 2009.
According to the complaint, the incident took place in an apartment in Kadavanthra, Kochi.
The case came to light after the actress disclosed the alleged incident during a television interview following the release of the Hema Committee report. This was the first case registered based on revelations made in the wake of the report.
The complaint was initially filed with Kochi City Police Commissioner Shyam Sundar and was taken over by the SIT. The chargesheet was submitted 82 days after the case was registered.
Ranjith, in his anticipatory bail application, had claimed that the complaint was motivated by the female actor’s disappointment at not being cast in the film. He further argued that the conversation in question took place in the presence of other crew members.
The Bengal-based actor alleged that after inviting her to audition for a role in the Malayalam movie Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha (2009), the director touched her arm in a manner that felt inappropriate.
The actress said he toyed with her bangles and stroked her hair. When he attempted to touch her neck, she left the room. The next day, the actor was told that she wouldn’t be part of the movie.
She, however, clarified that there was no sexual assault but Ranjith’s behaviour gave the impression that such an intention might have been there.
The case gained further traction when a special investigation team recorded a statement from Fr. Augustine Vattoli, who was informed about the incident by Joshi Joseph, a screenwriter and close associate of the actor.
Although Joshi had relayed the information to Fr. Augustine at the time, it was not disclosed publicly until the complaint was filed.
Father Augustine’s statement was subsequently recorded in connection with the ongoing investigation.
On 10 November, sources had said that key evidence-collection efforts have advanced in the ongoing investigation into another sexual harassment case involving Ranjith as the accused.
Police escorted the complainant through several hotels in Bengaluru, culminating in identifying the hotel where the alleged incident occurred.
In his complaint sent to the Kerala Director General of Police (DGP), the man alleged that Ranjith sexually abused him at a five-star hotel in Bengaluru in 2012.
Originally registered with the Kasaba police in Kozhikode, the case has since been transferred to the Bengaluru Airport police for further proceedings.
The allegations came after the Kerala government released the Justice Hema Committee report on 19 August, which highlighted the issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry.
(With inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman.)
