Malayalam filmmaker Ranjith remanded after arrest in sexual harassment case

Malayalam filmmaker and actor Ranjith, who was arrested in a sexual harassment case, was remanded in judicial custody for 14 days on Wednesday (April 1, 2026). He was then being sent to the Ernakulam Sub Jail.

A Judicial First Class Magistrate remanded him, a day after he was taken into custody from Thodupuzha in Idukki district late Tuesday following a complaint from a young female actor. He was brought to Kochi later and his arrest was recorded.

Speaking to the media outside the Magistrate’s residence, the director claimed he has been “framed” in the case. Before being produced before the Magistrate, he was admitted to the Ernakulam General Hospital for a brief duration as he complained of uneasiness.

Bail plea

His lawyer said a bail plea would be submitted before the court.

Mr. Ranjith, resigned as the chairperson of Kerala State Chalachitra Academy following a sexual harrassment case in 2024, was booked in the latest case after the actor lodged a complaint with Kochi City Police Commissioner Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar. The police arrested him after recording the complainant’s confidential statement.

He has been charged with attempt to outrage the modesty of a woman under relevant Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

A special investigation team (SIT) led by the Kochi City Police Commissioner is probing the case.

Two cases of sexual assault were registered against Mr. Ranjith in 2024 following allegations made against him in the wake of the release of the Justice Hema Committee report. However, the Kerala High Court in October 2025 quashed one of the cases in which a Bengali woman actor had accused him of trying to outrage her modesty.