Rape case: Malayalam actor Siddique moves HC for anticipatory bail
Malayalam actor Siddique has approached the Kerala High Court, reportedly seeking anticipatory bail in a rape case filed against him. The move comes in the wake of the ongoing #MeToo movement that has sent shockwaves through the Malayalam film industry. To note, the case was registered after a junior actor accused Siddique of sexually assaulting her at a hotel in Thiruvananthapuram in early 2016.
Siddique's hotel stay confirmed by police investigation
The police registered an FIR against Siddique based on the female actor's complaint. According to their investigation, the 61-year-old actor was staying at the Mascot Hotel during the time frame mentioned in the complaint. Hotel records confirmed that Siddique checked in on January 28, 2016. The authorities have also obtained documentation of his stay, including entries in the hotel's visitor log and records related to a film preview.
'He sexually abused and raped me,' says victim
The victim, a junior actor, made the allegations public on her Facebook page. She stated, "I was a young entrant in the industry at the time. He invited me into a hotel on the pretext of discussing a film project. Such a movie did not exist. It was a trap. He sexually abused and raped me." "He also physically assaulted me. I had to give up my dreams and my time, and I went through a lot of mental trauma."
Siddique resigned from AMMA general secretary post
Meanwhile, Siddique recently resigned as the general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) following allegations of sexual assault against him. The entire 17-member executive committee of AMMA, including president Mohanlal stepped down in light of the allegations. This comes after Justice Hema Committee report—made public on August 19—disclosed shocking accounts of harassment, exploitation, and ill-treatment of women professionals in the Malayalam film industry.
Other actors face similar allegations
Apart from Siddique, actors Mukesh, Jayasurya, Edavela Babu, Maniyanpilla Raju, and director Ranjith have also been booked in multiple sexual assault cases. A second case has been registered against Jayasurya following a fresh complaint lodged by a actor alleging sexual misconduct.
