Director Ranjith is currently in the news for all the wrong reasons. After a Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra filed a complaint with the Kochi Police against the director, now a male actor has registered a sexual assault case. The case was filed in Kozhikode and is the latest development after the release of the Hema Committee report. As per a report by news agency ANI, the investigation team recorded the statement of the complainant on Friday.
On Friday, a complaint was filed against Ranjith by an aspiring male actor, who alleged that the director forced him to strip naked and sexually assaulted him in 2012. Ranjith had invited the victim to a hotel in Bangalore for an audition, where the alleged assault took place.
The complainant initially believed it was part of the audition. The next morning, Ranjith offered the victim money. The actor has since filed a complaint with the DGP, and the SIT will consider it. Kerala Police had earlier confirmed to ANI that they received a complaint from the young actor against the Kerala filmmaker Ranjith.
Earlier this week, Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra filed a complaint with the Kochi City Police against Ranjith, a day after he resigned as the chairman of the Kerala State Chalachithra Academy. Based on the actress's complaint, a case was registered against the director.
Earlier this month, a redacted version of the Justice Hema Committee report on harassment faced by women in the Malayalam cinema industry was made public. It contains shocking accounts alleging harassment, exploitation, and ill-treatment of women professionals.
The 235-page report, published after redacting the names of witnesses and the accused, notes that the Malayalam film industry is controlled by about 10 to 15 male producers, directors, and actors who dominate and exert control over the industry.
(With ANI inputs)
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