Ranjith seeks quashing of case filed by Bengali actress; Kerala HC demands explanation

Kochi: The Kerala High Court has sought an explanation on a petition filed by director Ranjith seeking to quash the cases registered by the Ernakulam Town North Police based on a complaint by a Bengali actress. Justice C. Jayachandran reviewed the petition during the hearing.

The case relates to a 2009 incident when the actress alleged that Ranjith had called her for an audition for the film ‘Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha’. During the audition, the director reportedly touched her body with sexual intent at a flat in Ernakulam. The petition filed by Ranjith seeks to dismiss these charges. 

The police had already submitted a final report to the Ernakulam Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court in connection with the actress's complaint, which she officially filed on August 26, 2024.

Ranjith has stated in the petition the delay in filing the complaint, suggesting it might have created a legal hurdle for further action. It also pointed out that subsequent steps by the Magistrate Court allegedly failed to address this delay.