look news india
Ranjit resigned: Malayalam film producer Ranjit on Sunday resigned from the post of chairman of Kerala Chalachitra Academy. Actually, a Bengali actress has accused him of misbehavior. The actress has alleged that Ranjit misbehaved with her during the shooting of a film directed by him in 2009.
However, Ranjit has flatly denied the allegations and said that he is the “real victim” in the situation. In an audio clip sent to a television channel, he said that he has decided to step down to save the image of the Left government in Kerala.
Ranjit expressed his intention to fight the allegations legally. He said, “Ever since I took over as the chairman of the academy, a certain section of people have been targeting me. I want to prove to the society that the allegations are false. I have decided to proceed legally and bring out the truth. Bring it forward.”
The filmmaker also criticised the media coverage, saying, “Many people, including the media, are attacking me without understanding the truth. In this regard, I have decided to resign from the post.” State Minister for Cultural Affairs Saji Cherian announced that the government will accept Ranjith's resignation once it is formally submitted. Cherian reiterated that the Left government supports victims in cases of sexual harassment and abuse.
Cherian claimed, “I have always taken a strong stand in favour of women on all issues. The Left government's stand on this issue is also very clear. We always stand with the victims in such cases. Strict action will be taken against the guilty and wrongdoers.” He accused the media of misinterpreting his words and clarified that he never supported Ranjit.
Opposition Congress and BJP demanded Ranjit's resignation, saying he had no moral right to continue in his post. BJP workers took out a protest march to Ranjit's residence in Kozhikode and demanded his resignation. Rajya Sabha MP and State Mahila Congress president JB Mather insisted that only resignation was not enough. She demanded that a case be registered against Ranjit on the basis of the actress' allegations and a thorough investigation be conducted.
Despite getting legal assurances from the state government, the Bengali actress decided not to lodge a police complaint. She cited persistent media scrutiny as the reason for not taking legal action. “I don’t want to file a complaint because the media in Kerala and Bengal has been harassing me for the last three days,” she told a television channel. She questioned who would take care of her house if she continued to work on the issue. “I have started the process. I am handing over the reins to whoever takes it forward,” she said.