FEFKA to boot out Ranjith from membership after arrest in sexual harassment case

Filmmaker Ranjith, who was arrested by Kochi City Police in connection with a sexual harassment complaint filed by a young actress, will be removed from the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) until internal proceedings are completed, general secretary B Unnikrishnan said on Wednesday.

Clarifying the organisation’s position, Unnikrishnan stated that FEFKA follows a standard protocol in cases involving allegations of sexual misconduct against its members. “If a person is accused in a sexual misconduct case and is a member of FEFKA, the primary action is to remove them from membership until a decision is reached within the organisation,” he said.

Ranjith was taken into custody on Tuesday night following a complaint filed by an actress alleging that she was sexually harassed at a film shooting location in Kochi. Police sources said the complaint was lodged a few days earlier, after which an FIR was registered at the Vanitha Police Station.

According to the case registered at the Ernakulam Women Police Station, the director is facing non-bailable charges under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty (Section 74), sexual harassment (Section 75), and words, gestures or acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman (Section 79).

The complaint states that Ranjith allegedly attempted to sexually assault the actor inside a caravan at a shooting location on January 30.

Following his arrest, Ranjith was produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody for 14 days. He is currently lodged at the Ernakulam Sub Jail.

A Special Investigation Team led by the Kochi City Police Commissioner has been constituted to probe the case. Officials said the team will examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident as well as statements from those present at the shooting location.