KOCHI: Filmmaker Ranjith, who has been arrested in connection with an assault and sexual harassment case, was remanded to 14-day judicial custody on Wednesday.
Ranjith was taken into custody from Thodupuzha on Tuesday night following a complaint filed by a young actress who alleged that he attempted to sexually assault her on a film set.
The Ernakulam Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-I ordered his remand till April 13, following which he was sent to the Ernakulam sub-jail. The team investigating the case has filed a custody application in the court seeking his interrogation as part of the probe, while the defence has moved a bail petition. Both appeals are expected to be considered on Saturday.
“Ranjith was brought to the North Women Police Station from Thodupuzha on Wednesday early morning, following which his arrest was formally recorded. He was later produced before a magistrate at her residence in Tripunithura and remanded,” said a source with Kochi city police. The matter later came up before the open court, but was adjourned to Saturday as the production warrant was not ready, the officer said.
He has been booked for offences, including assault or use of criminal force against a woman, a demand or request for sexual favours, insulting the modesty of a woman, and wrongful confinement, under BNS.
Case fabricated, truth will prevail: Ranjith
Earlier in the day, Kochi City Deputy Police Commissioner Aswathy Jiji told reporters that the woman’s statement had been recorded and it was found to be prima facie credible. Statements of witnesses present on the film set where the alleged incident occurred will be recorded in the coming days, she said.
“We had been tracking Ranjith and suspected he might flee. So we coordinated with the police in other districts to detain him. Digital evidence related to the case is being collected and examined,” she said, adding that the Udayamperoor station house officer is leading the investigation.
Meanwhile, upon reaching the Ernakulam sub-jail premises, Ranjith told reporters that “this is a false case and the truth will prevail”. However, he declined to comment further.
Advocate Mohammed Siyad, appearing for Ranjith, told TNIE the case against the filmmaker is fabricated. “Ranjith has several health issues and cannot stand for long due to a spinal surgery. Despite his condition, he continues to work in films out of passion. Even a minor push could make him fall,” he said.
In the complaint lodged with the state police chief on Saturday, the actress, who is working in Ranjith’s upcoming film, alleged that the director attempted to assault her inside a caravan on the film set.