Second case against director Ranjith on male actor's complaint
Kozhikode(Kerala) (PTI): A second case for a sexual offence has been registered against director Ranjith on a complaint by a male actor in this district, police said on Saturday.
An FIR under sections 377 (unnatural offence) of the IPC and section 66 E (punishment for violation of privacy) of the Information Technology (IT) Act was lodged against the director on Friday night at the Kasaba police station, a senior police officer of the district said.
The complainant actor has alleged that the director called him to a hotel in Bengaluru in 2012, asked him to strip and took his nude photos.
The complainant also claimed, before TV channels, that the photos were sent to a well known veteran female actor who has denied the allegation.
The first case against Ranjith was under IPC Section 354 (assault or criminal force on woman with intent to outrage her modesty) on a complaint by a female actor from West Bengal regarding an incident which occurred in 2009.
She had alleged that the director had touched her inappropriately with sexual intent after inviting her to act in the movie Paleri Manikyam in 2009.
Following the allegation by the actor, Ranjith had resigned from his post as chairman of Kerala Chalachitra Academy.
Multiple FIRs have been registered against many high profile Malayalam film personalities following allegations of sexual harassment against various directors and actors in the wake of revelations in the Justice K Hema Committee report.
The Justice Hema Committee was constituted by the Kerala government after the 2017 actress assault case and its report revealing instances of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry.
Following the allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation cropping up against several actors and directors
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Fire breaks out at Trade and Taxes building in Delhi
New Delhi (PTI): A fire broke out at Trade and Taxes building in central Delhi's ITO on Thursday morning, prompting authorities to rush six fire tenders to the spot, an official of the Delhi Fire Services said.
No casualties or injuries have been reported so far.
A call regarding the blaze was received at 8:36 am, following which six fire tenders were rushed to the spot, he said, adding that the fire was doused at 9.10 am.
Initial reports indicate that the fire erupted on the 12th floor of the building, where the Sales Tax office is located.
Firefighters were deployed to prevent them from spreading to other parts of the multi-storey structure. Further details are awaited.
