Ranjith sexual assault case: Lawyer Mohammed Siyad steps down over conflict of interest claims

Dubai: Advocate Mohammed Siyad has withdrawn from representing Malayalam filmmaker Ranjith in an alleged attempted sexual assault case, following mounting backlash over his association with the film’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC).

Ranjith, who was recently arrested in connection with the case, has been remanded to 14-day judicial custody.

The controversy surrounding Siyad stemmed from his role as an ICC member on the sets where the alleged incident took place, raising questions about a potential conflict of interest.

Amid the criticism, the Women in Cinema Collective issued a statement questioning how ICC members could have been “unaware” of a serious incident that allegedly occurred under their watch, calling it indicative of power structures that silence accountability in the industry.

In response, Siyad told OnManorama that he stepped down to avoid fuelling further controversy.

He maintained that there were no legal restrictions preventing him from representing Ranjith and pointed out that the complainant had not raised any allegations during the shoot or approached the ICC at the time. However, he chose to recuse himself, adding that Ranjith’s family has been advised to engage another lawyer for the bail proceedings.

Siyad’s exit came hours after a bail plea was filed on behalf of the filmmaker. According to reports, the plea claims that disagreements between Ranjith and the actress during the shoot escalated into the complaint, and controversially suggests that the case was filed after her scenes were edited out of the film.

The lawyer also said he had stepped down from the ICC before taking up the case, citing his long-standing professional relationship with the film’s producers and his personal association with Ranjith. He further claimed that the filmmaker had raised concerns about a “possible conspiracy” and referenced his recent spine surgery, arguing that he would not have had the time or physical capacity to be in the caravan where the alleged incident reportedly occurred.

Questioning the delay in filing the complaint, Siyad noted that nearly two months had passed since the alleged incident and pointed out that with around 200 people on set, such an incident would likely not have gone unnoticed.

However, Kochi police have stated that the survivor was traumatised and required counselling and psychiatric treatment before filing the complaint. The case alleges that Ranjith attempted to sexually assault the actress after calling her into a caravan during the shoot.