Kerala Court Remands Film Director Ranjith to Judicial Custody in Sexual Harassment Case

New Delhi, April 1, 2026 — In a significant development for the Malayalam film industry, a magistrate court in Ernakulam has remanded veteran film director and former Kerala State Chalachitra Academy chairman Ranjith Balakrishnan to judicial custody. The court’s order on Wednesday follows his arrest by the Kerala Police in connection with a fresh sexual harassment complaint filed by a young actress.

Arrest and Judicial Proceedings

Ranjith was taken into custody late Tuesday night from Thodupuzha in the Idukki district. After being brought to Kochi, his arrest was formally recorded by the police. On Wednesday morning, he was produced before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-1, Ernakulam, which ordered him to be remanded in judicial custody for 14 days, until April 13, 2026.

The filmmaker is currently lodged in the Ernakulam Sub Jail. Prior to his appearance in court, Ranjith reportedly complained of physical uneasiness and was briefly admitted to the Ernakulam General Hospital. However, medical authorities cleared him for production after finding no serious health concerns.

Nature of the Allegations

The case stems from a complaint filed by a female actor who alleged that the director attempted to sexually assault her inside a caravan at a film shooting location on January 30 of this year. According to the police:

• The victim provided a confidential statement detailing the incident.
• The FIR was registered by the Ernakulam Vanitha Cell under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
• Charges include Section 74 (assault or criminal force to women with intent to outrage her modesty), Section 75 (sexual harassment), and Section 79 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman).

In their remand report, the police argued against granting bail at this stage, citing Ranjith’s influential position and the risk of the investigation being derailed if he were released.

A Pattern of Controversy

This is not the first time the National Award-winning director has faced such allegations. Ranjith’s career has been under a cloud since the release of the Justice Hema Committee Report, which exposed widespread systemic abuse within the Malayalam cinema industry.

1. 2024 Allegations: A Bengali actress previously accused him of misconduct during a 2009 film audition. While an FIR was filed, the Kerala High Court quashed those proceedings in October 2025, citing a significant delay of 15 years in filing the complaint.
2. Bengaluru Case: He also faced a separate complaint regarding the alleged assault of a male actor in Bengaluru in 2012.

Defense and Industry Reaction

Ranjith has consistently denied all allegations, maintaining that he is being “framed“ as part of a larger conspiracy. His legal team has indicated that a bail application will be moved before the court in the coming days.

The arrest has reignited intense debate regarding safety and accountability in the workplace for actors. Once a titan of the industry known for hits like Nandanam and Indian Rupee, Ranjith’s reputation has been severely dented as the legal net tightens around him.