Ernakulam: Ernakulam CJM court on Saturday granted police custody of director Ranjith until Monday in connection with a sexual assault case involving an actress.

Police are expected to continue gathering evidence at the caravan where the alleged assault took place during this period.

Ranjith, who had been held at the Ernakulam sub-jail, was produced before the court. The court declined even to consider his bail petition, which had already been filed before his remand. His lawyer, S. Rajeev, opposed the custody extension, arguing that Ranjith had health issues and questioning the need for police custody at this stage.

The prosecution countered that police custody was necessary to interrogate Ranjith. They stressed that detailed questioning and collection of additional evidence could not proceed without him in custody. Based on this, the court granted police custody until Monday. Meanwhile, the hearing on Ranjith’s bail petition has been postponed to April 7.

Authorities also recovered a second caravan from the Changanassery set of Ranjith’s film during the ongoing investigation.

The anticipatory bail plea will be taken up by the court for consideration on Tuesday.

Prior remand and arrest details

Ranjith had earlier been remanded for 14 days by the court in connection with the case. Police completed procedures at the residence of a civil judge in Maradu before transferring him to Ernakulam sub-jail. He was arrested earlier this week amid ongoing proceedings for anticipatory bail related to the actress’s complaint.

Ranjith could not be questioned effectively immediately after his arrest due to health issues. 

Complaint, investigation and charges

The case stems from an incident on January 19, when the young actress was allegedly assaulted inside a caravan on a film set. Witnesses on the shooting site reportedly saw the actress leaving the caravan in distress. 

The actress had given her statement under strict confidentiality. She alleged that Ranjith entered a caravan during a film shoot and assaulted her. Investigators found her statement credible, prompting his arrest. The complainant is an actor in a film currently directed by Ranjith.

The registered case lists four charges: defamation, sexual assault, obstruction, and exhibition of obscene content. Initially, the actress submitted her complaint to the film set’s internal committee. When the matter remained unresolved, she approached the DGP and later the SIT formed to investigate disclosures in the Hema Committee report.