Malayalam actor Siddique arrested in rape case, granted bail after Supreme Court protection : Bollywood News

Veteran Malayalam actor Siddique was formally arrested and underwent a medical examination before being produced in court. Following the proceedings, he was granted bail. This comes after the Supreme Court had granted him protection from arrest on November 19, allowing him to avoid immediate detention in connection with the ongoing rape case.

Malayalam actor Siddique arrested in rape case, granted bail after Supreme Court protection

Siddique had approached the Supreme Court after the Kerala High Court denied him protection from arrest on September 24. The High Court had cited the seriousness of the allegations against him, stating that custodial interrogation was necessary for a thorough investigation into the matter.

Siddique, who faces charges under sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), has claimed in his plea that the complainant has been engaged in a “prolonged campaign of harassment and false accusations” against him since 2019. The allegations arose when a female actor accused him of rape, leading Siddique to resign from his position as general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA).

Multiple FIRs were registered against several high-profile figures in the Malayalam film industry following allegations of sexual harassment. These came after revelations in the Justice Hema Committee report, which highlighted the extent of harassment faced by women in the industry. The report brought to light accusations against various directors and actors, sparking a significant wave of legal actions within the industry.

The Justice Hema Committee was formed by the Kerala government in response to the 2017 actress assault case. The committee's report exposed instances of harassment and exploitation of women within the Malayalam film industry. In light of these findings, the state government announced the creation of a seven-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) on August 25 to probe the sexual harassment and exploitation charges against several actors and directors. The SIT aims to investigate the allegations thoroughly and bring justice to the victims.

Also Read : Case filed against Malayalam actor Siddique on charges of rape and sexual harassment