Supreme Court extends interim anticipatory bail of Malayalam actor Siddique in ongoing rape case
Content Warning: This article discusses sexual assault, which may be triggering to some readers.
The Supreme Court has granted an extension to Malayalam actor Siddique’s interim anticipatory bail in a rape case for an additional two weeks. This decision was made on October 22 after a young actress accused him of sexual assault. According to a report by Live Law, the court postponed the hearing at the request of Siddique’s lawyer, who needed more time to respond to the status report from Kerala Police.
Kerala Police initially opposed Siddique’s petition, and his lawyer mentioned that Siddique had cooperated with the investigating officer as per the court’s orders.
The State of Kerala’s lawyer argued that Siddique was not cooperating with the investigation and was allegedly tampering with evidence. They referenced the Justice Hema Committee’s report on abuses faced by women in Mollywood to provide context for the delayed complaint filing by the victim.
The lawyer claimed that Siddique had destroyed electronic devices and deactivated social media accounts to obstruct the investigation. Several other women have also filed FIRs against Siddique for similar allegations of exploitation.
Following the release of the Justice Hema Committee report, the actress publicly accused Siddique of sexually exploiting her in 2016. The High Court determined that the allegations against Siddique would be categorized as “rape.”
Important Note: If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual, physical, or emotional abuse, please seek help. There are helplines available for support, and remember, you are not alone.
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