‘Case cannot be filed on allegation'; Ranjith is a talented artist India has seen, says Minister Saji Cherian

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian came forward defending director Ranjith on the allegation of Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra. It needs to be examined. Minister Saji Cherian responded that a case will not be filed on the allegation and if a complaint is filed, a case will be registered. The government is with the victim and not with the arraigned. The minister said that if a complaint is filed, the government will examine it.

Saji Cherian said Ranjith is a talented artist India has seen and a case can be filed only if a written complaint is given, and a case cannot be filed just on the basis of a report or an allegation. The minister while talking to the media at the press meet said that a decision has to be taken by the CPM to remove Ranjith from his duties.

Sreelekha Mitra had the other day revealed that director Ranjith misbehaved with her when she same to act in ‘Paleri Manikyam’ in 2009-10. She said that she spent the whole night in the hotel in fear.

The actress said that she had complained to documentary director Joshi Joseph about the incident. However, the actress said that no one contacted her later. Mitra said that she did not get a chance in Paleri Manikyam and even other Malayalam films. She said that she was denied opportunity only because she objected to his misbehaviour.

After the actress' disclosure, KPCC president K Sudhakaran demanded that Ranjith be removed from the chairman post of Chalachitra Academy and an investigation should be conducted on the incident. Sudhakaran also opined that the accused are working as the power group of Pinarayi government. The minister, MLA and the academy chairman are all part of it.

Sudhakaran added that this is why the Hema committee report was kept for four and a half years and some parts of the report were omitted, and it is doubtful whether they had a role. The KPCC president also opined that behind the mysterious intervention of the government is the eagerness to protect the accused.