Director Ranjith granted bail in actress’ sexual assault case

KOCHI: Director Ranjith, who was arrested in a sexual assault case, has been granted bail. The Ernakulam First Class Magistrate's Court granted bail with conditions. The court also rejected the prosecution's request for his custody. Ranjith was arrested on March 31 on the actress' complaint.

The prosecution had alleged that Ranjith was not cooperating with the investigation during the argument. The prosecution clarified in the custody application that he was not taking the medications prescribed by the doctor, he had tried to contact the survivor on the phone on the day of the assault, the phone was seized by the police and sent for examination, and that he needs to be questioned again in the event that new digital evidence is found.

He was arrested following the complaint of an actress that he misbehaved with her in a caravan at the shooting location in Fort Kochi on January 28. Ranjith was remanded after collecting evidence, including from the caravan where the complaint alleged the assault took place.

The evidence collection was conducted under the leadership of the Udayamperoor Woman SI, who is in charge of the investigation, at the shooting location in Aspinwall, Fort Kochi, where the actress is said to have been sexually assaulted in the caravan, and the Kochi City AR Camp premises where the detained caravan is kept. The police had also collected statements from the caravan driver and those present at the shooting location.