New Delhi: Malayalam actor Siddique has approached the Supreme Court, challenging the Kerala High Court’s refusal to grant him anticipatory bail in a rape case. The actor, represented by lawyer Ranjeeta Rohatgi, filed the petition after the high court denied his request earlier this week. Rohatgi, a junior to senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who represented Dileep in the 2017 actor assault case, will present Siddique’s plea to the apex court. Meanwhile, the Kerala government has lodged a caveat, requesting the opportunity to present its case before any decision on Siddique’s anticipatory bail is made.
Though the police have issued a lookout notice for Siddique, it is reported that the investigation team is likely to delay his arrest until the Supreme Court takes up the matter. The high court, in its earlier ruling, stated that due to the serious nature of the allegations, Siddique’s custodial interrogation was necessary to further the investigation. It also highlighted that a pending potency test and concerns over witness intimidation made granting bail inappropriate at this stage.
Siddique faces charges under IPC sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation). In his defence, the actor claims the accusations are part of a “prolonged campaign of harassment” by a female actor that began in 2019. He also argued that the delay in filing the complaint casts doubt on its validity. However, the prosecution contended that Siddique’s interrogation was crucial, not only for conducting the potency test but also to prevent him from using his influence to interfere with the investigation.
Siddique resigned from his role as the general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) following the allegations. His case is part of a broader investigation into the Malayalam film industry, stemming from the findings of the Justice K Hema Committee, which exposed instances of sexual harassment. In response, the Kerala government has set up a special investigation team to probe these revelations further.
