Ranjith’s lawyer withdraws from sexual assault case, urges family to seek new counsel for bail

Ranjith Balakrishnan’s lawyer, Mohammed Siyad, has withdrawn from representing him in the ongoing sexual assault case, asking the filmmaker’s family to appoint a new counsel ahead of the bail hearing.

Siyad’s decision comes amid criticism over a potential conflict of interest, as he also served on the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) for the film linked to the case. Explaining his stance, Siyad said that while he has been part of several ICCs as a legal advisor to production houses, the complainant had not raised any concerns during the shoot or approached the committee at the time.

His withdrawal came just hours after he filed a bail plea on Ranjith’s behalf. According to reports, the plea argues that the complaint stemmed from disagreements between the filmmaker and the actor during the shoot.

Allegations and arrest

Ranjith was taken into custody earlier this week after a woman actor accused him of attempting to sexually assault her on a film set. The complaint was filed with the Kochi City Police.

The actor alleged that she was lured into a caravan during the shoot, where the filmmaker attempted to assault her. Following the complaint, police initiated action and formed a Special Investigation Team to probe the matter.

S Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar, Commissioner of Kochi City Police, said the allegations were discreetly verified before the arrest. “It should not happen to any woman, especially at the workplace,” he noted.

Ranjith has since been remanded to 14-day police custody.

Industry reaction

The Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) has strongly condemned the allegations, calling them “grave” and raising concerns about systemic failures within the film industry.

In a detailed statement, the collective said the incident highlights how little has changed despite legal directives and policy measures. It questioned the prevailing power structures in the industry, stating that such cases point to a system that continues to fail women at the workplace.