The Supreme Court is slated to consider the anticipatory bail plea of Malayalam actor Sidhique on September 30, following a Kerala High Court ruling that denied him such relief in a rape case.
Justice Bela M. Trivedi and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma will preside over the hearing. The appeal, submitted through counsel Ranjeeta Rohatgi, challenges the High Court’s September 24 decision, which cited the grave nature of the allegations to necessitate Sidhique’s custodial interrogation for a thorough investigation.
The High Court dismissed the anticipatory bail on the grounds of potential witness tampering and evidence manipulation, emphasizing that Sidhique’s mere denial of the incident was insufficient for granting bail. The order clarified that its observations should not be interpreted as a comment on the case’s merits.
Sidhique, known for his significant contributions to the Malayalam film industry, faces charges under sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. He has contended that the accusations are part of a protracted harassment campaign by the complainant, a fellow actor, who he claims has been making unsubstantiated allegations against him since 2019.
The actor’s legal team argued that the delay in filing the complaint and the complainant’s inconsistent claims weaken the case against him. However, the victim’s attorney countered these claims in the High Court, suggesting that the state police had compromised the investigation under the actor’s influence, a claim that fueled the decision to deny bail.
Prosecutors maintain that the investigation is still in its early stages, with substantial evidence pending examination, including a mandatory potency test for Sidhique. They argue that granting anticipatory bail would risk the integrity of the evidence and the safety of witnesses, given the actor’s prominent status.
This case gains further significance in light of the Justice K. Hema Committee report, which in 2019 exposed widespread sexual harassment within the Malayalam film industry. Despite the delayed release of the report, its findings have instigated multiple investigations against top industry figures, highlighting systemic issues within the sector.
Sidhique’s resignation from his post as the general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) marked a notable fallout from the ongoing controversy, underlining the industry’s turbulent dealings with allegations of sexual misconduct.
