A fresh complaint of sexual assault has been filed against renowned Malayalam filmmaker-screenwriter Ranjith, marking the second serious allegation against him in recent days. The complaint, brought forward by a 33-year-old man, alleges that Ranjith forced him to strip naked and sexually assaulted him in 2012 during an encounter at a five-star hotel in Bengaluru.
The survivor, who was 21 at the time, stated that he met Ranjith during the shooting of the film Bavuttiyude Namathil in Kozhikode. Eager to secure a role in a film, the man approached Ranjith, who provided him with his mobile number and instructed him to reach out a few days later. When the survivor did so, Ranjith invited him to his hotel room in Bengaluru. According to the complaint, Ranjith, who was alone and consuming alcohol, insisted the young man join him in drinking. What followed, the survivor alleges, was a traumatic experience where Ranjith coerced him into stripping, took photos of him, and then sexually assaulted him.
The survivor revealed that, following the assault, his attempts to contact Ranjith were ignored. He described the ensuing months as filled with trauma, during which he was unable to speak out due to fear and the director’s influential status. The man expressed that, at the time, he felt powerless to challenge someone as prominent as Ranjith, and he believed that his claims would not be taken seriously.
The decision to come forward now, the survivor explained, was prompted by the recent release of the Hema Committee report and similar allegations raised by a Bengali actress against Ranjith. The Hema Committee report, which has brought to light systemic injustices and sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry, has inspired several victims to share their stories, highlighting the pervasive issue of abuse within the industry.
The complaint was officially submitted via email to Kerala’s Director General of Police, Shaik Darvesh Saheb. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Kerala Police is currently handling the case, with the survivor having already provided his statement to women officers over the phone.
Ranjith has not yet responded to these latest allegations. The situation continues to develop as more individuals come forward in the wake of the Hema Committee report, which has sparked a broader conversation about the abuse of power in the film industry.
The Kerala police are expected to proceed with further investigation, as the growing number of allegations against prominent figures in the Malayalam film industry continues to unfold.
Sources by Agencies
