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Malayalam Film Director Ranjith Balakrishnan has approached the Kerala High Court for granting him anticipatory bail on an alleged sexual harassment complaint against him by actress Sreelekha Mitra.
Ranjith is accused of attempting to allegedly molest and sexually assault the actress in the year 2009 under the pretext of a movie audition for "Paleri Manikyam". The allegations had surfaced after the publication of Justice Hema Committee Report on August 19, 2024. The report revealed the extensive information on sexual abuse, casting couch and exploitation practices that exists within the industry on multiple levels. The actress had filed a complaint with the Kochi city police against the director a day after he had resigned as the chairman of the Kerala State Chalachithra Academy. In an email sent to the Kochi City Police Commissioner, Mitra detailed an incident from 2009 when she was in Kochi for discussions about a role in the movie Paleri Manikyam, which Ranjith was directing. "I was invited to act in a film 'Paleri Manikyam' directed by Ranjith. As part of discussion I was called to the flat in which Sri Ranjith was staying at Kaloor Kadavanthra, Kochi. During the course of discussion, he clutch hold of my hand and later on attempted to spread his hand to other parts of my body with sexual intention. Realizing that his intentions are not the discussion regarding the film and with sexual intent, I had to escape from the flat and returned to the hotel where I was staying. My bitter experience was shared on the next day to a script writer Sri Joshy Joseph. As I was not given the traveling ticket for my return journey, I was compelled to seek the help of Sri Joshy Joseph," the actress wrote in her complaint. (ANI)
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