Kerala Sexual Harassment Row: Actor accuses Ranjith of assault, claims he was forced to strip; case filed

A young male actor has accused Kerala film-maker Ranjith of sexual assault and has filed a complaint against him, according to ANI, citing Kerala Police. The accusation comes amid a controversy sparked by the Hema Committee report, which shed light on the “pervasive” sexual exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry.

According to the news agency ANI, Ranjith invited the victim to a hotel in Bangalore for an audition. However, the young male actor was allegedly assaulted. Ranjith asked him to strip naked and later assaulted him. The victim thought he was invited to an audition but later realised the situation.

ANI reported, citing Kerala Police, that the male actor has filed a complaint with the DGP, and SIT will consider it. The victim claimed that the next day after the incident, Ranjith offered money to the actor.

Justice Hema Committee report

The Kerala government constituted the Justice Hema Committee after the 2017 actress assault case. The Hema Committee report made shocking revelations about sexual harassment and exploitation cases in the Malayalam cinema industry.

The panel report, which was formed by a committee comprising Kerala High Court Judge Justice K. Hema, veteran actress Sarada, and retired IAS officer K.B. Valsala Kumari, is based on the atrocities against women in the Malayalam film industry. The committee report was finally released a few weeks ago, leading to massive criticism of the Kerala government.

Since the Hema Committee report went public, several women actors, and now even a male actor, have come forward and shared their harrowing experiences of sexual harassment. Many have made allegations against some well-known faces of Malayalam cinema, including director Ranjith and actors Siddique and Mukesh.

Earlier, former union minister and BJP leader V Muarleedharan slammed the Kerala government for “not acting in a timely” manner over the Hema Committee report. He also accused the government of attempting to protect big names in the film industry.