Malayalam director Ranjith remanded in judicial custody in sexual assault case

Kerala police arrested veteran Malayalam director Ranjith Balakrishnan on Tuesday night in connection with a sexual assault complaint filed by a young actress , authorities said. The case was registered at the Ernakulam North Women’s Police Station , and the court remanded him to 14‑day judicial custody at Ernakulam Sub Jail after he was produced before a magistrate following a medical examination at Ernakulam General Hospital .

According to police, the actress said the alleged attempt to sexually assault her occurred inside a caravan on the set of a film in Fort Kochi in January , prompting her to first approach the film’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) before lodging a confidential complaint with police . Officials intercepted Ranjith’s vehicle near Thodupuzha , took him into custody, and transferred him to Kochi for further proceedings .

The FIR includes charges under provisions relating to sexual assault, outraging modesty, and related offences , and investigators say the probe was carried out with a high degree of confidentiality to protect the complainant’s privacy. Police sources also noted that several crew members on the set were aware of the incident at the time.

Ranjith, known for acclaimed films such as Spirit , Indian Rupee and Thirakkatha , denied the allegations , calling the complaint false and asserting that he had been framed, with his legal team preparing a bail plea .

This is not the first time the filmmaker has faced scrutiny: in 2024 a Bengali actress accused him of misconduct dating back to 2009 , leading to his resignation as chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy , though that case was later quashed by the Kerala High Court on technical grounds . Another complaint filed in Bengaluru in 2024 was dismissed by the Karnataka High Court in July 2025.

The latest arrest and remand have reverberated across Malayalam cinema , with industry figures expressing surprise and concern over the allegations, even as debate continues over safeguarding and accountability on film sets.