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The Malayalam film industry is surrounded by controversies due to the continuous cases of sexual harassment. Meanwhile, Bengali actress Srilekha Mitra has filed a complaint of sexual harassment and rape against famous Malayalam director Ranjit. In the complaint filed on Monday, the actress has accused director Ranjit that Ranjit called her to his house in 2009 to give her a role, during which he sexually harassed her.
While lodging a complaint against director Ranjit in Kochi City Police Station, actress Srilekha Mitra has said that in the year 2009 she was called to Kochi to offer her a role in the film Palareimanikkam, which was being directed by Ranjit. Ranjit called her to his flat in Kaloor Kadavanthra, where he was staying, to discuss the role. During the conversation in the flat, Ranjit held her hand tightly and then started touching her body with the intention of having sex with her.
Srilekha further said that as soon as she realized the danger, she ran away from the flat where she was staying and came to her hotel. The next day of this incident, she told script writer Shri Joshi Joseph about this. She was not given a ticket to return home, so she asked for help from Shri Joshi Joseph.
Srilekha did not want to complain earlier
The actress has also told during the complaint that she belongs to Kolkata and she did not understand the local legal process of South, so she was hesitant to complain earlier. However, now she has lodged a complaint through mail.
IGP and Commissioner of Police A. Shyamsundar told ANI, “We have received a complaint of harassment against Director Ranjit. A complaint has been filed under Section 354 at the North Police Station. The Special Investigation Team formed by the government will investigate the matter.”
Let us tell you that just a day before the complaint was made on Monday, director Ranjit had resigned from the post of Chairman of Kerala State Film Academy.
These actresses also accused senior artists of harassment
Recently, Malayalam actress Sonia Malhar revealed that an actor tried to force himself on her during a film shoot in 2013. Actresses Geetha Vijayan and Sridevika have also accused director Tulsidas of sexual harassment during film shoots. At the same time, a junior artist has also accused senior Baburaj that in 2019, Baburaj called her home and tried to force himself on her. Veteran Malayalam actor Siddiqui has also been accused of rape by an actress, after which he has resigned from the post of General Secretary of AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists). Actor Baburaj is also the joint secretary of this association.
The committee submitted the report
Let us tell you that for the past several years, many such incidents related to regional cinema have been coming to the fore, in which female artists have revealed that many big filmmakers have made objectionable demands from them in exchange for giving work in films. At the same time, some female artists have told that they have been sexually exploited during the shooting. In view of the increasing cases, a 3-member committee was formed in 2019 under the chairmanship of retired Justice Hema, which was closely monitoring such cases. On August 19, about 4 years after the formation of the committee, the Hema Committee has submitted a 233-page report to the Kerala government, in which exploitation by many big artists has come to the fore. As soon as the report came, many actresses are revealing the exploitation that happened to them.