Govt, police with victim; Ranjith will not be protected: Minister Saji Cherian

Kochi, Apr 1 (PTI) Kerala Culture Minister Saji Cherian on Wednesday said that the government and the police are with the victim and not with noted Malayalam film director Ranjith, who is accused of attempted sexual assault.

Ranjith, who was remanded to judicial custody for 14 days, claimed that the accusations against him were “false” and that it will be proved.

He made the claim before reporters while being taken inside the sub-jail here.

Cherian told reporters that “such acts will not be accepted by the government or the society” and the government and the police were with the victim.

Ranjith was appointed as chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy in 2022 and resigned from the post in 2024.

The minister said that director was appointed

to the post because he was qualified for it and at that time there were no such allegations against him.

“He carried forward the academy in a good way. When such allegations came up earlier, he had left the position. We are viewing seriously the repeating of the same allegations against him. Neither the police nor the government is protecting him,” he said.

He said that the quick action taken against the director is an outcome of the recent changes in the movie sector, including holding of the cinema conclave and the state film policy.

“Let the investigation take its course,” he added.

The minister also said that anyone in the film sector having similar bad experiences can come forward with a complaint and stand firm on it as the government will be with them.

The director was arrested late last night in connection with an attempted sexual assault case.

According to the police, the woman actor alleged that the director had invited her to a caravan during the shooting of a film and attempted to sexually assault her.

Ranjith had earlier faced allegations of sexual harassment following revelations in the Justice K Hema Committee report on harassment and abuse in the Malayalam film industry.

In 2024, a case was registered against Ranjith after a Bengali actress filed a complaint with the Kochi City Police Commissioner.

The complaint, sent via email, alleged that Ranjith had touched her inappropriately with sexual intent after inviting her to act in the film Paleri Manikyam in 2009. PTI HMP ADB