Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra files complaint against director Ranjith with Kochi City Police Commissioner
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra filed a complaint with the Kochi city police commissioner on Monday against director Ranjith, whom she had previously accused of sexual abuse.
Following these allegations, Ranjith resigned from his position as chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy on Sunday.
Mitra sent a complaint to the city police commissioner via e-mail in connection with the incident that took place at DD Flats at Kadavanthara, Kochi in 2009.
"I was invited to act in the film "Palerimanikkam directed by Ranjith. As part of the discussion, I was called to the flat in which Ranjith was staying at Kaloor Kadavanthara in Kochi. During the course of discussion, he clutched my hand and later attempted to spread his hand to other parts of my body with sexual intention. Realising that his intentions were not the discussion regarding the film and with sexual intent, I had to escape from the flat and return to the hotel where I was staying," she said in the complaint.
The actor said she shared her bitter experience with scriptwriter Joshy Joseph. "As I was not given the travelling ticket for my return journey, I was compelled to seek the help of Joshy Joseph, she said.
Mitra said that since she hailed from Kolkata, West Bengal, she was unable to pursue this matter any further to prosecute Ranjith for the offence attracting sections 354, and 354 B of the IPC at the time of the commission of crime.
"Certain comments from the public functionaries also were brought to my notice and the response would show that a written complaint is necessary to register a crime. As the conduct of Ranjith constituted the commission of a cognizable offence, a written complaint is not a prerequisite, as I am told, following the judgement of the Supreme Court. In view of the public stand taken by the public functionaries in the state of Kerala, that a written complaint is a prerequisite, I am lodging this complaint by way of e-mail," the complaint said.
