FIR was registered against Oommen Chandy; how did it end? Minister’s justification on Ranjith issue

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Cultural Minister Saji Cherian has addressed the controversy surrounding director Ranjith following serious allegations made by Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra. In response to questions from the media, the minister dismissed comparisons with the solar case involving former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, emphasising the need for a legal basis before taking action.

“When allegations were made against Oommen Chandy in the solar case, an FIR was indeed filed. The question is, where did it lead? This is what I referred to in understanding the judgement. An FIR was lodged based on the commission’s report that was appointed following the allegations. However, the Supreme Court later dismissed the FIR, clarifying its position on the matter. Consequently, it is essential that any action taken on such issues remains strictly within the bounds of the law. This is the current stance of the government,” the minister explained.

Saji Cherian also highlighted that Ranjith is an accomplished artist and reiterated that the government would consider legal action if the actress officially lodged a complaint. The controversy began on Friday when Sreelekha Mitra accused Ranjith, a prominent Malayalam film director, of misconduct. Her claims have sparked calls for Ranjith to step down as Chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy.

Ranjith, while confirming that Sreelekha had attended auditions for his movie Paleri Manikyam, which stars Mammootty in the lead role, denied any wrongdoing during an interview with a news channel.

The minister concluded by stating that there was no need to inform the media whether he had spoken to Ranjith as a minister. He assured that the government stands with the victim, not with hunters.