Director Ranjith suspended by FEFKA following 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, has been suspended from the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) until the organisation completes its internal proceedings, general secretary B Unnikrishnan said on Wednesday.

Clarifying the federation’s position, Unnikrishnan said 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 after an actress alleged that she was sexually harassed at a film shooting location in Kochi. Police sources said the complaint was lodged a few days earlier, following which an FIR was registered at the Vanitha Police Station.

According to the case registered at the Ernakulam Women Police Station, the director has been booked under multiple non-bailable sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty, sexual harassment, and words or gestures intended to insult the modesty of a woman.

In her complaint, the actress alleged that Ranjith attempted to sexually assault her 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 and record statements from those present at the shooting location.