Kerala HC rejects anticipatory bail of actor Jayasurya, Siddique in sexual abuse case

The Kerala High Court has rejected the plea of ​​actors Jayasurya and Siddhique for interim bail in connection with allegations of sexual abuse.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been appointed to probe incidents of sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry and on Monday the Kerala High Court closed the anticipatory bail applications filed by actors Jayasurya and Siddique in a sexual assault case. “In view of the above submissions, the bail applications stand closed, reserving the right of the petitioner to pursue his remedies in accordance with law,” the High Court said.

Two cases were filed against Jayasurya, one in the state capital of Kerala and the other in Kochi. After assessing the evidence, the court ordered that the actor be granted bail for the offences, which were alleged to have been committed before 2013.

Siddique, on the other hand, flatly refuted the allegations that were still pending. This legal development came after Siddique’s September 2 application for interim bail in response to a rape case filed against him. He resigned from the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) as general secretary in response to the allegations, as did the group’s 17-member executive committee.

Earlier this month, the court rejected Malayalam film star Ranjith’s plea for interim bail. Actors like Mukesh, Edavela Babu and Maniyanpilla Raju have also been linked to allegations of sexual abuse. The police have so far filed 11 First Information Reports (FIRs) against various celebrities following revelations by former female actors about their exploitation.

About the Hema Committee Report

The Thiruvananthapuram police have filed a first information report (FIR) following a complaint by a woman actor who made the allegations public.

Recent revelations of sexual abuse have sent shockwaves through the Malayalam film industry thanks to the ‘Me Too’ campaign. The Justice Hema Committee report, which revealed alarming details of harassment, exploitation and institutionalised abuse of women in the industry, coincided with the spike in these claims. The report, made public on August 19 after the identities of witnesses and accused were withheld, claimed that around 10 to 15 male producers, directors and actors dominate and wield influence over the Malayalam film industry.

(With inputs from IANS and ANI)