Supreme Court: The Division Bench of Bela M. Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma, JJ., on 19-11-2024, granted anticipatory to Malayalam actor Siddique in a rape case filed against him by an actress. The Division Bench confirmed the interim anticipatory bail granted to the actor in September 2024.
The allegations against the actor surfaced after the publication of Justice K. Hema Committee Report, which had revealed several instances of sexual abuse, ‘casting couch’ practices, and gender discrimination in the Malayalam film industry. The publication of the Report encouraged many to come forward with their stories alleging several noted Malayalam filmmakers and actors.
The case against actor Siddique was filed by an actress who alleged that she was raped by the actor in 2016. The matter is currently being investigated by a Special Investigation Team constituted in the wake of revelations made in the afore-stated Report.
The Kerala High Court on 24-11-2024, had refused to grant anticipatory bail to actor Siddique. Aggrieved with the refusal, he knocked on the doors of the Supreme Court, wherein he was granted interim protection from arrest.
While hearing the anticipatory bail application, the Supreme Court questioned the delay in filing of the complaint, especially when the alleged incident took place in 2016. The Court, however, directed actor Siddique to cooperate with the investigation and surrender his passport to the investigating officer.
Source: Press
