Malayalam film director Ranjith Balakrishnan booked for sexually assaulting man in Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Oct 28: A case has been registered against Malayalam film director Ranjith Balakrishnan on a complaint by a 31-year-old man, who alleged that he was sexually assaulted by him at a five-star hotel here, police said on Monday.
In the FIR, the complainant has claimed that he met the director in 2012 in Kozhikode when he had gone to meet actor Mammootty during the shoot of 'Bavuttiyude Namathil', a film written and produced by Balakrishnan.
According to FIR, the complainant alleged that the director thereafter managed to get his phone number and invited him to the hotel near Kempegowda International Airport in December 2012 where he allegedly offered him alcohol and sexually assaulted him.
"The complaint was initially filed at a police station in Kerala but the case was transferred to Bengaluru because the alleged incident of sexual assault occurred at a five-star hotel here and an FIR has now been registered," a senior police official said.
"The incident allegedly took place in 2012 but the complainant came out now in the wake of a series of sexual harrassment allegations by many artists in the Malayalam film industry which he claimed gave him the courage to register his complaint," the official said.
"Based on the complaint received, a case was registered on October 26 at BIAL (Bangalore International Airport Limited) police station under section 377 (unnatural offences) and 66 E (violation of privacy) of Information Technology Act against the director and the matter is being investigated," he said.
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Distraught families wait in anguish outside LNJP Hospital after Red Fort blast leaves several dead,
New Delhi (PTI) Hours after a high-intensity car explosion near the Red Fort killed at least eight people and injured 24 others, heart-wrenching scenes unfolded outside the LNJP Hospital on Monday night, as families waited anxiously for word on their loved ones.
Confusion and grief marked the atmosphere, with relatives alleging lack of information and mismanagement. Many said they were not being allowed inside to check on the victims.
Sudheer Sharma, a resident of Rohtas Nagar in Shahdara, said his son Ankush Sharma was critically injured in the explosion, battling for his life in the ICU.
"My son went to visit the Gauri Shankar temple with his friend Rahul Kaushik. While Rahul was sent home after stitches on his head, Ankush is fighting for his life," he said, adding that his son worked at a jewellery shop.
Zeeshan Ansari, brother-in-law of Dawd who sustained injuries in the blast, said, "He called me after the incident. We rushed here immediately, but have not been allowed to see him till now."
Mohammad Danish, cousin of Sameer Khan, an auto-rickshaw driver injured in the blast, said a stranger called him to inform him about the incident.
"Sameer is in the ICU. We still don't know how bad his situation is," Danish said.
Tahir Mohammad, a relative of Sameer, said, "The hospital staff is not allowing us to see him."
At one point, an elderly man was seen pleading with police and hospital guards to let him inside to check on his son.
He was finally allowed after a heated argument.
Some people said there was "complete mismanagement" at the hospital, with no clear communication as to where to go or which gate to enter.
"We just want to know if our family members are alive," one of them said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also visited the LNJP Hospital to take stock of the situation.
The blast, which occurred at 6.52 pm near the Red Fort traffic signal, gutted several vehicles and left multiple people critically injured.
Authorities said all major agencies -- Delhi Police, NIA, NSG and forensic teams -- are investigating the cause of the explosion.
