Malayalam Director Ranjith Balakrishnan Granted Bail In S*xual Harassment Case; Asked To Surrender Passport After 14 Days In Judicial Custody

Ranjith Balakrishnan’s arrest in a s*xual harassment case recently sparked widespread attention in the Malayalam film industry. Especially after a young actress accused him of attempting to as*ault her during a film shoot. Days after being taken into custody and undergoing custodial interrogation. The filmmaker has now secured bail, even as the investigation into the allegations continues.

Malayalam Director Ranjith Balakrishnan Granted Bail In S*xual Harassment Case

According to reports, the actress alleged that Ranjith invited her to a caravan on set and attempted to as*ault her. Based on her statement, the police registered a First Information Report (FIR) on March 28 under multiple sections. Including s*xual as*ault, outraging the modesty of a woman, wrongful confinement, and making obscene gestures. He was later taken into custody from Idukki district.

The Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, presided over by L Usha, granted bail with strict conditions. The court directed Ranjith to surrender his passport, not leave Ernakulam district, and stay away from the alleged crime scene in Fort Kochi. It also ordered him to execute a bond of Rs 1 lakh with two solvent sureties of the same amount. Additionally, he must appear before the investigating officer every Monday for the next three months or until the charge sheet is filed.

However, the prosecution opposed the bail plea. It argued that key witnesses in the case were associated with the filmmaker’s projects. And that granting bail could allow him to influence them and potentially derail the investigation. The prosecution also claimed that Ranjith had not fully cooperated with the investigating officer during his three-day custodial interrogation earlier this month.

Ranjith Balakrishnan Asked To Surrender Passport After Bail

On the other hand, the defence maintained that Ranjith had not resisted arrest or custodial questioning. His counsel also cited his health condition while seeking relief. Taking these factors into account, along with the current status of the investigation, the court decided to grant bail.

Earlier, while being taken to the sub-jail in Kochi, Ranjith addressed the media and termed the allegations “false,” stating that he would prove his innocence. Meanwhile, Kochi City Police Commissioner S Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar confirmed that a Special Investigation Team had been formed after the complaint surfaced, and that the allegations were verified before the arrest.

With bail now granted under conditions, the investigation in the case will continue as authorities proceed with further inquiry and legal steps.

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Varsha Tiwari

Varsha Tiwari is a budding content writer passionate about Bollywood, pop culture, and the stories behind the spotlight. She enjoys breaking down trends, celebrity moments, and film narratives into engaging, reader-friendly content. Always curious and observant, she is currently pursuing a Master’s in Communication and Journalism. Outside of writing, she enjoys painting because storytelling doesn’t always need words to make an impact.