Kerala Court Orders Production Of Director Renjith In Sexual Assault Case, Bail Hearing Tomorrow

The Judicial First Class Magistrate-1, Ernakulam has issued a production warrant to produce film director Renjith Balakrishnan in court tomorrow, in relation to a sexual assault case.His bail application will be heard tomorrow.Smt. L. Usha, Magistrate today heard arguments advanced by the public prosecutor and Advocate S. Rajeev appearing for Renjith.Renjith's counsel pointed out that there has been a delay of 2 months in preferring the complaint and that the alleged incident allegedly occurred at a film shooting location with more than 200 persons.It was further argued that the complainant preferred the complaint because of certain personal motives due to the disagreements in the film set. He told that the complainant had acted in the film but after the shooting of her scenes, she wanted to be part of a song and it was because this demand was denied that she retaliated with the sexual assault allegation.The counsel also contended that the place of occurrence and the motive was relevant in the present case. He submitted that Renjith would cooperate with the investigation, appear before the investigation officer as and when called, and to not leave the jurisdiction.The prosecutor submitted that an application for production warrant was filed by the investigating officer, who claimed that Renjith did not cooperate with the investigation and therefore, certain important evidence could not be collected. It was also stated that Renjith did not take medicines while he was in police custody and had to be returned to judicial custody. It was further stated that the investigating officer and other police officials are having election duty and therefore, would not be free to interrogate Renjith till April 10. Therefore, it was stated that his production on April 10 was necessary.However, Renjith's counsel opposed the same and contended that the prosecution's intention was to keep him in custody till the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections are over. He also pointed out that there is nothing in the prosecution's application that the director was not taking medicine.The counsel asked: "Is the reason to keep me in custody to satisfy the media?"In reply, the prosecution stated that it was due to the peculiar circumstances due to the elections that custody is sought for April 10 instead of today or tomorrow.The Magistrate then questioned the prosecutor: "If you want custody, you can take today. Within 24 hours. But not on 10th...That's not fair...Pending the production warrant, I cannot decide the bail application...3 days' custody I have given. This petition cannot be allowed...Production warrant for 10th will not be allowed. If there is any application for today, I will allow...Indefinitely, production warrant cannot be adjourned. You can inform him (investigation officer)."The Magistrate then allowed the application for production on Wednesday (April 8). It observed:"Issue production warrant to the accused. To be produced before the court on 08/04 at 11 am."Noting that bail application cannot be considered while the accused is in custody, the Magistrate said that the bail can be heard tomorrow after Renjith is produced before it.Renjith was taken into custody on March 31 following a complaint by an actress, who alleged that he had attempted to sexually assault her at a film shooting location. An FIR has been lodged against Renjith by Vanitha Cell, Ernakulam following the complaint.The Magistrate Court had earlier remanded Renjith to judicial custody after his arrest and thereafter, allowed the custody application preferred by the police, granting permission to interrogate the director for three days.He is accused of the offences punishable under Sections 127 [Wrongful confinement], 79 [Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman] 75 [Sexual harassment] and 74 [Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty] of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.Two cases of sexual assault were registered against Renjith in 2024 following allegations made against him in the wake of the release of the Justice Hema Committee report. In October, 2025 the Kerala High Court had quashed the proceedings in one of the sexual harassment cases, noting delay in lodging the complaint.Advocate S. Rajeev is appearing for Renjith.Case No: Crl.M.P. No. 1 of 2026Case Title: Renjith Balakrishnan v. State of Kerala

Kerala Court Orders Production Of Director Renjith In Sexual Assault Case, Bail Hearing Tomorrow

K. Salma Jennath

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