Kerala HC Closes Anticipatory Bail Plea By Film Director Ranjith Upon Being Told Offense Was Committed Before S.354A IPC Was Made Non-Bailable
Manju Elsa Isac
4 Sep 2024 11:52 AM GMT
The Kerala High has closed the anticipatory bail petition filed by Malayalam Movie Director Ranjith. The petition was closed on the report of the Public Prosecutor that the S. 354 of IPC (outraging modesty) which is alleged against the petitioner was bailable in 2009 when the incident allegedly took place.
He submitted that the police are treating the offence as bailable and the director can take bail directly from the police station if he is arrested.
An FIR was registered against the actor in Ernakulam North Police Station on the complaint of a Bengali film actress and offences under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code. (Outraging the modesty of woman) The complainant alleged that in 2009, the director invited her to his flat for a movie discussion and during the discussion, he held her hand and touched other parts of her body with sexual intent.
Section 354 of IPC was made non-bailable and the punishment was enhanced when IPC was amended in 2013.
The petitioner submitted before the Court that other persons were present in the flat at the time of the discussion. He also submitted that the complaint was made due to the resentment of not being chosen to act in the movie and this resentment was re-ignited by people who wanted to remove him from the post of Chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy. The petitioner had also submitted that he is suffering from various ailments and therefore should be granted bail.
Senior Advocate P. Vijayabhanu appeared for the actor before the Court. The matter was heard before the bench of Justice C. S. Dias
The Malayalam film industry has been going through a period of intense discussion post the release of the Justice Hema Committee Report. Many persons have raised allegations of rape and sexual harassment at the hands of various persons in the film industry. The Kerala State Government has formed a Special Investigation Team to look into any complaints filed in this regard.
Case Title: Ranjith Balakrishnan v State of Kerala
Case No: BA 7346 of 2024
