Director Ranjith has reportedly decided to apply for anticipatory bail in response to a police case registered against him following a complaint by Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra alleging sexual misconduct by him. 

Following her complaint lodged with the Kochi City Police Commissioner, Ranjith has been charged under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), a non-bailable offence.

In the wake of release of the Hema Committee Report, which looked into the injustices meted out to the women in the Malayalam film industry by their male colleagues, several female actors have come forward with disturbing accounts of mistreatment by various male colleagues. 

City Police Commissioner S Syamsundar had said that the case will be handed over to the Special Investigation Team, formed by the State Government, to probe sexual harassment allegations against leading actors in the Malayalam film industry. 

Earlier on Monday, the actress officially lodged the complaint against him in connection with the incident that took place in an apartment at Kadavanthra in 2009.

As per her complaint, she was summoned to Kochi under the pretext of discussing the upcoming film 'Paleri Manikyam - Oru Pathira Kolapathakathinte Kadha’  directed by Ranjith. During the meeting in the apartment at Kadavanthara where Ranjith was staying, he allegedly touched her hands and other body parts with sexual intentions. Upset by his behaviour, she left the apartment and went back to the hotel where she was staying. Next day she returned to Kolkata with the help of her friend and script writer Joshy Joseph. She alleged that she was not even provided with a return flight ticket.