The Supreme Court will hear an anticipatory bail plea of ​​Malayalam actor Siddique on September 30

Malayalam actor Siddique. (Instagram/acto.Siddique)

Also read: Take note of warning against Siddique as he files anticipatory bail application in SC

Prominent lawyer who helps Siddique

Police investigation has revealed that persons associated with a well-known lawyer in Kochi helped Siddique with hideouts. Sources said authorities have been monitoring his movements in at least six locations around Kochi for the past two days.

Any further action, including his possible arrest, will be determined after the Supreme Court’s ruling on his bail plea.

Meanwhile, on the orders of the state police chief, lookout notices were published in newspapers in several states to help in the search for Siddique. Emails had been sent to the DGPs of all states, seeking their cooperation in the matter.

On Wednesday, September 25, notices containing Siddique’s photo and contact details of the investigation team were circulated for publication in the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka newspapers.

On orders, the lookout notices were published in the daily newspapers, especially in Kerala. The notice, published in both Malayalam and English newspapers, states that Siddique is currently absconding and urges the public to immediately inform the police if they have any information about his whereabouts.

In addition, police have established special surveillance in Chennai and Bengaluru as part of the search and intensified measures by deploying search teams at border checkpoints.

The Thiruvananthapuram Museum police had registered a case against Siddique on August 28, which includes charges of rape, under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code.

Supreme Court order

On September 24, the Kerala High Court rejected Siddique’s anticipatory bail plea after reviewing key evidence from the investigation team, raising the possibility of his arrest soon.

Rejecting the bail plea, the Supreme Court observed: “Whether the above statement of the survivor is plausible will ultimately have to be evaluated and decided after a full-fledged trial. Nevertheless, the contention that the aforesaid delay taints the entire prosecution case is not a ground for withdrawing the complaint, especially when a bail application is being considered. Victims of sexual abuse and assault may experience psychological, emotional and social barriers that fuel the delay in reporting, which must necessarily be understood in the context of the trauma.”

The Supreme Court also ruled that the acts accused against Siddique would fall within the ambit of the expanded definition of “rape.”

Also read: Kerala High Court rejects Siddique’s interim bail plea

The complaint

The complaint, filed by the actress, dates back to 2016 when she alleged that Siddique sexually exploited her at the Mascot Hotel in Thiruvananthapuram. The two had reportedly attended a movie preview show at the Nila Theater on the same day.

Police investigations found corroborating evidence, including hotel records from eight years ago, confirming the actress’s presence at the Mascot Hotel.

Although Siddique has maintained that he met the complainant in the presence of her parents, the Supreme Court’s decision to reject his bail indicates that the evidence supporting the actress’ claims is being seriously considered.

After filing the complaint, Siddique resigned as general secretary of AMMA, the actors’ association.

Also read: Rape case registered against Malayalam actor Siddique

Hema committee report

The Kerala government formed the Justice Hema Committee following the sexual assault of actresses in 2017. Its report highlighted cases of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry.

The release of the Justice K Hema Committee report opened a can of worms, with several female actors coming forward with disturbing stories of the abuse they faced at the hands of their various male counterparts.

The Hema Committee report was made public on August 19, five years after it was submitted to the Kerala government.

Following this, the government appointed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation of women in Malayalam cinema. The SIT will take further legal action based on the findings of the Hema committee report.

Sources indicate that there are more than twenty cases with serious allegations. Complainants in these cases will be contacted and, with their consent, legal proceedings will be initiated. Further, the SIT has decided that if the individuals make fresh statements, the team will proceed with necessary legal action.