Published 12:38 IST, September 30th 2024
Siddique Sexual Assault Case: SC To Hear Absconding Malayalam Actor's Pre-anticipatory Bail
After the HC rejected Siddique's anticipatory bail on September 24, the former AMMA member appealed to the Supreme Court, which will hear the case today.
Siddique Rape Case Update: The Malayalam actor is facing legal action after being accused of rape and assault by an actress, who is also a member of the Women In Cinema Collective. She filed a complaint with the Special Investigation Team assigned to investigate sexual assault cases highlighted in the Hema Committee Report. For unversed, the Malayalam actor has been absconding since the High Court rejected his anticipatory bail on September 24, the former AMMA member then appealed to the Supreme Court, which will hear the case today.
Supreme Court to hear Malayalam actor's pre-anticipatory bail today
The apex court is scheduled to hear Siddique’s pre-arrest bail today, September 30. A bench of Justice Bela Madhurya Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma will be commanding the hearing and has listed the plea as the 62nd case.
Update on Siddique's missing
Reports suggest that the police have intensified their efforts to locate Siddique and issued a lookout notice, but they have yet to find the Nandanam actor. He went missing after the Kerala High Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea in a sexual abuse case.
According to a report by Onmanorama, while Siddique remains in hiding, the victim, who accused him of sexual abuse, has also alleged that the police are aiding Siddique after the High Court rejected his bail pleas.
Kerala government opposes Siddique’s bail
Some media reports suggest that the Kerala government will oppose the actor in the case and challenge Siddique's anticipatory bail plea in the Supreme Court. The government is expected to argue that granting bail to Siddique could be a risk to the complainant’s life.
Siddique booked after the Hema Committee Report expose
Actress Revathy Sampath has accused Siddique of sexually and mentally abusing her on August 25, claiming the incident took place when she was 21. This accusation followed the release of the Hema Committee reports during the #MeToo movement.
Revathy, in a statement to Onmanorama, said, “Siddique first contacted me through social media. Later, after promoting the movie 'Sukhamayirikkatte', he invited me to his hotel room. I was 21 years old then. He sexually assaulted me and even locked me inside the room. However, I managed to escape.”
Following her complaint, Siddique stepped down as the General Secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA). He now faces charges of rape under Section 376 and criminal intimidation under Section 506.
Updated 12:55 IST, September 30th 2024