Thodupuzha: Noted Malayalam filmmaker Ranjith was taken into police custody on Tuesday evening in Idukki district following a fresh allegation of attempted sexual assault by a woman actor, authorities confirmed.

The arrest was carried out by the Ernakulam Central Police based on a complaint filed on Monday. The victim, a young actress, alleged that the director attempted to sexually assault her after inviting her into a film set caravan during a recent production.

According to police sources, the actor’s formal statement was recorded at the Women’s Police Station in Kochi on Monday. Following the testimony, law enforcement initiated a high-secrecy operation to apprehend the director, who was intercepted in Thodupuzha while travelling for an event.

Escalating Legal Challenges

The veteran director is currently being held at the Thodupuzha police station and is expected to be transferred to Kochi shortly. This latest case adds to a growing list of legal difficulties for Ranjith, whose career has been under intense scrutiny since the release of the Justice Hema Committee report on systemic abuse within the Malayalam film industry.

Ranjith has previously faced several high-profile accusations:

  • Bengali Actress Complaint: In 2024, a case was registered after an actress from West Bengal alleged that the director had touched her inappropriately with sexual intent in 2009. The Kerala High Court previously closed an anticipatory bail plea regarding this matter after police indicated the decade-old offence might be treated as bailable.
  • Male Actor Allegation: A 31-year-old male actor also filed a complaint in Bengaluru, claiming he was subjected to unnatural sexual assault during a 2012 audition at a local hotel.

Secrecy in Proceedings

The Kochi City Police registered the latest FIR on Monday, moving swiftly to execute the arrest on Tuesday. Officials noted that the registration of the case and the subsequent tactical move in Idukki were conducted with "utmost secrecy" to ensure the integrity of the investigation.

The director, who resigned as the chairperson of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy last year amid the initial wave of #MeToo allegations, continues to maintain his innocence, previously claiming that such accusations were part of a coordinated campaign to malign his reputation.

With inputs from PTI