New Delhi: The Kerala Police informed the Supreme Court that the interim protection granted to Malayalam actor Siddique in a rape case has emboldened him and demoralised not only the survivor but also others in the film industry. The police claimed that Siddique's actions, following the court’s order, mocked the legal proceedings.
The police report, submitted on October 19, highlighted that fans of Siddique celebrated the court's decision by distributing sweets when his bail was first heard. The report argued that this trivialized the seriousness of the charges against him.
Although the investigation is in its early stages, the police stressed there is a "stockpile of evidence" against Siddique. They emphasised the need for his custodial interrogation to counter his narrative of innocence and prevent him from being venerated as a hero.
The Supreme Court granted Siddique interim protection from arrest on September 30 and directed him to cooperate with the investigation. However, the police claimed the actor, who has appeared in over 350 films, has been actively working to disrupt the investigation, causing further distress to the victim and potential witnesses in the industry.
The affidavit, filed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Ajichandran Nair, stated that the interim relief had "severely demoralised and intimidated" the survivor and other potential victims in the industry, particularly after the release of the Justice Hema Commission report, which had prompted some to come forward. The police warned that prolonging Siddique's protection could deter these witnesses from testifying.
The police argued that due to the complex nature of the case—alleging incidents from eight years ago—Siddique’s custody was necessary for effective investigation, including the recovery of digital evidence and uncovering the full sequence of events. They expressed concerns that the actor, given his influence, could tamper with evidence and intimidate witnesses.
Following the Kerala High Court's rejection of his bail plea on September 23, Siddique reportedly went into hiding and resurfaced only after receiving interim protection from the Supreme Court, raising doubts about his willingness to cooperate with the investigation.
Siddique is accused of rape and criminal intimidation under sections 376 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code. In his defense, Siddique claimed that the complainant has been subjecting him to a "prolonged campaign of harassment" since 2019.
The rape allegations against Siddique are part of a broader wave of sexual harassment complaints within the Malayalam film industry, brought to light after the Justice K Hema Committee report. This report, commissioned after the 2017 actress assault case, exposed systemic exploitation of women in the industry. In response, the Kerala government formed a special investigation team to probe allegations against multiple high-profile figures.
