MeToo Victim Sreelekha Mitra Cancels Trip To Kochi After Accusing Ranjith Of Abuse: Let Me Be

Sreelekha Mitra Cancels Kerela Seminar: The Bengali actress has been making headlines ever since she accused director Ranjith of sexual harassment causing a stir in the Malayalam film industry which was already jolted by the findings of the Hema Committee Report. Following her confessions, the actress has been sharing her anecdotes about how the popular Malayalam director harassed her on set causing her to quit the project. Stating that sharing the intimate details took a ‘heavy toll’ on her, the actress travelled to the mountains to ‘take a breather’. Consequently, she took to her Instagram account to apologise for not being able to attend a seminar scheduled with filmmaker Joshy Joseph in Kochi, Kerala.

Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra details how August has taken an ‘emotional toll’ on her 

Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra has withdrawn from the upcoming seminar in Kochi following her sexual harassment allegations against film director Ranjith. Mitra announced her decision on Sunday morning, citing the recent turmoil in her life and the intense media scrutiny surrounding the allegations as reasons for her break. In her Instagram post, Mitra detailed the emotional toll the situation has taken on her.

"August has always made me feel it's 'august' presence..my birth month and the month of my mom's passing , my brother's birth month, and the month nd day of my very dear friend's passing. The 15th of August being our Independence Day and the day I moved out of my 'shashur bari' to start ( wasn't even sure how) afresh. This August too began with the #rgkarrapemurdercase infuriating all of us across territories, then the #jhargramelephantkilling to something I never felt would come out in the open after 15 odd years about the #malayalamfilmindustry incident and how I became an integral part of the entire #metoo movement .I had been hounded by press media across country narrating the said incident over n over n over again which took a heavy toll on me as it did back here when I took names of #bengalifilmindustry who's who ..REMEMBER?" she wrote.

Sreelekha Mitra claims she needs a ‘breather’ amid the #MeToo uproar 

The actress continued in the caption, “Yes I took a break from everything and travelled to the mountains whose quiet would calm my soul .This was my birthday treat to myself and done giving any justification to anyone for my said act. Sorry I couldn't travel to Kerala for the seminar which had been cancelled becos of me . I needed a breather as I have my right to live My Life according to My Choice and have never ever bowed down to the misogynistic society and film industry by n large. .Again sorry Mr Joshy Joseph for declining your offer. Hopefully will come back in better times. I HAVE DONE MY BIT NOW LET ME BE.”

Earlier, Mitra lodged a complaint with the Kochi City Police against Ranjith on Monday, a day after he resigned as the chairman of the Kerala State Chalachithra Academy. The complaint alleges that in 2009, during discussions about a film role, Ranjith made inappropriate physical advances towards her. In an email sent to the Kochi City Police Commissioner, Mitra detailed an incident from 2009 when she was in Kochi for discussions about a role in the movie Palerimanikkam, which Ranjith was directing. She claimed that during the discussion, Ranjith "clutched" her hand and attempted to touch other parts of her body with sexual intent.