Malayalam filmmaker Ranjith Balakrishnan has been sent to three days of police custody in connection with an alleged sexual assault case. He was produced before the First Class Magistrate Court in Kochi on Saturday following his arrest. The court remanded him to police custody after the hearing.
The case pertains to allegations that the filmmaker sexually assaulted an actress during a film shoot. Police had earlier registered a First Information Report (FIR) on March 28 based on the actress's statement.
An actress who was working with him filed a complaint alleging that he attempted to sexually assault her on a film set. She alleged that Ranjith invited her to a caravan during the film’s shoot and attempted to assault her.
The case was registered by Kochi City Police on Monday after the actress' statement was recorded at the Women’s Police Station. The police stated that the proceedings of Ranjith’s arrest were carried out with ‘utmost secrecy’.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Aswathy Gigi said that the police acted after corroborating the complaint with additional evidence. She added that the SIT would continue its probe during the police custody period granted by the court.
Ranjith's legal counsel has indicated that a bail plea is being prepared and will be moved before the court in due course.
