- By Ridhi Suri
- Thu, 29 Aug 2024 08:08 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
After a Bengali actress' complaint of misconduct, a Kozhikode resident has now accused Malayalam filmmaker Ranjith of sexual abuse. The complainant alleges that Ranjith abused him in 2012 at a five-star hotel in Bengaluru. Speaking to Asianet News, the man revealed that he encountered Ranjith while working on the film Bavuttiyude Namathil, which starred Mammootty, during its shooting in Kozhikode.
He had gone to the set to watch the filming and had the chance to meet Ranjith. After expressing his interest in acting, Ranjith supposedly gave him a phone number written on a piece of tissue paper and advised him to send a text rather than make a call. The Kozhikode resident claimed that after texting Ranjith, the filmmaker invited him to visit him in Bengaluru.
The complainant was directed to travel to the Taj Hotel in Bangalore two days later. When he arrived around 10 p.m., he was informed by the receptionist that visiting hours had ended. He reported this to Ranjith, who then instructed him to enter through the back door. Once inside the room, he found that Ranjith had been drinking. Ranjith allegedly offered him a drink, which he initially declined but later accepted.
The complainant further reported that Ranjith's behaviour shifted following the incident. The director allegedly requested that he undress so Ranjith could see how he appeared naked in the mirror. Additionally, filmmaker supposedly asked him to apply kajal, commenting on the beauty of his eyes.
According to reports from TOI, the complainant informed he was unable to detail the specifics of what Ranjith did to him but confirmed that he was sexually abused by the filmmaker. He mentioned that he plans to discuss the matter with the police. The complainant also alleged that Ranjith took nude photographs of him, stating that the filmmaker intended to show these images to his 'actress' girlfriend, who was staying at the same hotel.
The man further claimed that he had sought a film role from Ranjith but was avoided by the filmmaker following the alleged incident. He stated that the ongoing Me Too movement and the release of the Hema Committee report motivated him to come forward. Concurrently, Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra also made serious accusations of misconduct against Ranjith after the report's release. In response to these allegations, Ranjith resigned from his position as chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy on Sunday, August 25.
Sreelekha Mitra also filed a formal complaint about Ranjith’s inappropriate behavior, which she alleges occurred in Kochi in 2009.
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