Malayalam Film Industry Reels From Sexual Harassment Allegations: FIR Against Director Ranjith On Bengali Actor's Complaint

Amid sexual harassment allegations in the Malayalam film industry, Kerala Police on Monday (26 August) registered a First Information Report (FIR) against filmmaker Ranjith.

The first FIR, after the Justice K Hema Committee report revelations, was filed on the basis of a complaint sent through e-mail to the Kochi city police commissioner by Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra.

Mitra has alleged that Ranjith touched her inappropriately when she was invited to act in the movie ‘Paleri Manikyam’ in 2009, with intentions to make sexual advances.

Kochi Police Commissioner S Syamsundar said that a case under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 354 (assault or criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) has been lodged.

Ranjith is a big name in the Malayalam film industry and a national award-winning director. He has rejected these allegations and called himself the "real victim," Hindustan Times reported.

However, he resigned as the chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy saying that his continuation would "adversely impact the reputation of the Left government."

Mitra said that she does not know whether Ranjith has treated other female actors in the film industry in the same way but expressed that she felt uncomfortable due to his advances.

"I went to his residence to discuss an upcoming film project, and I did not like his behaviour. He made certain advances subtly... Maybe his power and influence played a role for others to not speak out," she added.

Actor Minu Muneer made similar accusations against stars M Mukesh and Jayasurya and said that she had to move to Chennai due to this. However, she has not filed any formal complaint yet.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has announced that a seven-member special team will be formed to probe the atrocities faced by women actors, as the pressure mounts due to the Hema Committee report.