New Delhi: Coming as a shock from Bengaluru, a case has reportedly been registered against Ranjith Balakrishnan following a complaint by a 31-year-old man. The complainant has alleged that the renowned Malayalam director sexually assaulted him at a five-star hotel in Bengaluru.
According to the FIR, the complainant claims that the harrowing incident took place in 2012. He had met the director that year while visiting Kozhikode to meet actor Mammootty during the shoot of Bavuttiyude Namathil. The drama thriller film was written and produced by Ranjith.
How Ranjith allegedly assaulted male artiste
The FIR further mentions that Ranjith then secured the complainant’s phone number and later, in December 2012, invited him to a hotel near Kempegowda International Airport. On the premises, Ranjith allegedly lured him with alcohol and then sexually assaulted him.
A senior police official was quoted by PTI that the complaint was initially filed at a police station in Kerala. However, the case was transferred to Bengaluru due to the location of the alleged assault. The official added that as a result of a series of sexual harassment allegations by various artists in the Malayalam film industry, the complainant found the courage to report the incident now. He was presumably referring to the release of the Hema Committee report, which bring to light detailed allegations from female artists and workers from the Malayalam Cinema.
Based on the complaint, a case was registered on Saturday (October 26, 2024) at BIAL (Bangalore International Airport Limited) police station against the director under Section 377 (unnatural offences) and Section 66E (violation of privacy) of the Information Technology Act. The matter is currently under investigation by the authoroties.
