Sexual assault case: Director Ranjith sent to SIT custody
What's the story
The Ernakulam First Class Judicial Magistrate Court has granted the Kochi City Police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) custody of filmmaker Ranjith until 4:00pm on Monday, reported Onmanorama. The court accepted the prosecution's argument that the seriousness of the offense warranted detailed interrogation and further evidence collection. The case was registered after a young female actor alleged she was sexually assaulted during a film shoot in Kochi in January.
Defense stance
Ranjith's health concerns raised in court
Opposing the custody application, Ranjith's defense counsel, Advocate S Rajeev, raised concerns over the director's health. He told the court that Ranjith had undergone a liver transplant and was suffering from severe back pain following spinal surgery. The lawyer argued that custodial interrogation could expose him to serious infection risks. He also claimed that police had "unnecessarily hastened" Ranjith's arrest and that due legal procedures were not followed while taking him into custody from Thodupuzha.
Legal proceedings
Court grants custody, hearing for bail postponed
Despite the defense's arguments, the court granted custody till 4:00pm on Monday. The court directed the police to ensure Ranjith undergoes a medical examination every 24 hours during this period. His bail application will be heard on Tuesday, when he is scheduled to be produced in court again. Advocate Rajeev told the outlet, "We didn't argue for the bail today since the court was considering the custody petition first."
Investigation progress
Shooting crew members' statements being recorded
Meanwhile, Kochi City Police Commissioner Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar said the SIT has begun recording statements from crew members present at the shooting location during the alleged incident. Ranjith, who was earlier remanded to 14 days of judicial custody at Ernakulam Sub Jail, has denied the allegations. This is not the first time he has faced such accusations; in 2024, he stepped down as chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy following similar claims by a Bengali actor.