LegalCase – Director Ranjith Requests Court to Ease Bail Travel Restrictions
LegalCase – Director Ranjith has moved the Ernakulam First Class Judicial Magistrate Court seeking a modification in the bail conditions imposed on him in a sexual assault case. The filmmaker requested permission to travel outside Ernakulam district, stating that medical reasons require him to leave the district temporarily.
Court Seeks Police Response
During the hearing held on Thursday, the court asked the police to submit their response regarding the plea filed by the director. The matter is expected to be considered further after investigators present their position on the request for relaxation of restrictions.
Ranjith was taken into custody on March 31 following a complaint lodged by a young actress who accused him of sexual misconduct. According to the complaint, the alleged incident occurred on January 30 inside a caravan at a film shooting location. The actress alleged that the director acted inappropriately with her while filming was underway.
Bail Granted With Strict Conditions
Earlier, the Ernakulam Judicial First Class Magistrate Court had granted bail to the director under several strict conditions. As part of the bail order, he was directed to remain within Ernakulam district and regularly cooperate with the investigation process.
The court also instructed him to appear before the investigating officer every Monday for a period of three months. In addition, he was ordered to surrender his passport and avoid visiting the location where the alleged incident reportedly took place. Investigators were also given the authority to summon him whenever required for questioning related to the case.
Director Denies Allegations
Ranjith has strongly denied the accusations made against him. In his response to investigators and the court, he maintained that the allegations were fabricated and linked to personal dissatisfaction connected to the film project. According to his version, disagreements reportedly arose after he criticised the actress’s performance and removed certain portions of her scenes from the movie.
The director was released from custody after spending 11 days in jail following his arrest. Since securing bail, he has remained under the conditions imposed by the magistrate court while the investigation continues.
Investigation Continues
The case has attracted significant attention within Kerala’s film industry, particularly because of the ongoing discussions around workplace conduct and safety in cinema environments. Police officials have continued gathering statements and reviewing evidence connected to the allegations.
The court’s decision on whether to ease the travel restriction is likely to depend on the medical grounds presented by the director and the response submitted by the investigating authorities. Until then, the existing bail conditions remain in force.