TNFMumbai/ TNF
Malayalam actor Siddique has gone missing after the Kerala High Court denied his anticipatory bail request in a rape case. The High Court rejected Siddique’s plea on Tuesday, September 24, following allegations made by an actress. Justice C.S. Dias dismissed the application, stating, “The petition is dismissed.” Following this, a Kerala police team searched Siddique’s two residences but failed to locate him.
The actor was last seen in public three days ago, on Saturday, when he attended the funeral of veteran actress Kaviyoor Ponnamma. Reports suggest that Siddique is planning to appeal the High Court’s decision in the Supreme Court. In response, a lookout notice has been issued at all exit points and airports across India. His two mobile phones have also been found switched off.
Siddique is facing charges under Section 376 (rape) and Section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. In his plea, the actor claimed that the actress has been running a long campaign of harassment and false allegations against him since 2019. He has asserted that her accusations are baseless and fabricated.
According to media reports, the actress alleged that Siddique sexually harassed her and made repeated inappropriate advances over five years, starting in 2016, during their time working together at a theater. In contrast, Siddique argued that the accusations of a more severe crime, such as rape, are inconsistent with earlier claims made by the complainant.
Amid these accusations, Siddique resigned from his position as the General Secretary of the Malayalam Movie Artists Association (AMMA).
Controversies in Malayalam Film Industry
Siddique’s case comes in the wake of ongoing sexual harassment allegations against several prominent figures in the Malayalam film industry. These accusations surfaced after the Justice K. Hema Committee’s report, which was commissioned by the Kerala government in 2017, exposed rampant exploitation and abuse of women in the industry. The committee was set up following the attack on an actress in 2017, which shocked the nation.
In response to these revelations, the Kerala government announced the formation of a seven-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) on August 25 to investigate the increasing number of sexual misconduct allegations against actors and directors. While actors like Mukesh, Ranjith, Raju, Prakash, and Jayasurya have received court relief from arrest in similar cases, Siddique has become the first actor to have his anticipatory bail rejected.
The outcome of Siddique’s legal battle, combined with the ongoing investigations, could have far-reaching implications for the Malayalam film industry, which is facing a reckoning over its handling of sexual harassment cases. The situation has thrown a spotlight on the deep-rooted issues within the industry, with many calling for systemic reforms and greater accountability.
