In a significant development, the Kerala Police have urged the Supreme Court to terminate the interim protection from arrest granted to prominent Malayalam actor Siddique, involved in a rape case. The police argue that his continued liberty poses a severe risk to the integrity of their investigation.
On September 30, the Supreme Court had granted Siddique interim protection, directing him to cooperate with the ongoing investigation. However, the Kerala Police, in their status report filed on October 19, expressed concerns about Siddique’s potential to influence witnesses and tamper with evidence.
The report, penned by Assistant Commissioner Ajichandran Nair of Thiruvananthapuram, detailed how the actor’s actions have demoralized and intimidated not only the survivor but others within the film industry who have been closely monitoring the case. According to the police, the actor has over 350 film credits and wields considerable influence, which he could use to obstruct justice.
The filing highlighted that Siddique had gone into hiding after his bail application was rejected by the Kerala High Court on September 23, only re-emerging after the Supreme Court’s intervention. This behavior, as per the police, underscores his reluctance to cooperate fully with the investigative authorities.
The need for Siddique’s custodial interrogation was stressed by the police as essential to uncovering the full scope of events surrounding the alleged crime, which dates back eight years. The police stated, “The process of investigation is lengthy and complex, necessitating his custody to prevent any meddling with the investigation.”
Furthermore, the police affidavit suggested that the celebratory actions of Siddique’s supporters, who distributed sweets following the interim relief, trivialized the seriousness of the allegations and legal proceedings.
The allegations against Siddique include severe charges under sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. He has defended himself by claiming that the complainant has been waging a campaign of harassment and levying false accusations against him since 2019.
This case is part of a broader investigation spurred by the Justice K Hema Committee report, which exposed systemic sexual harassment and exploitation in the Malayalam film industry. The revelations have led to multiple FIRs against several high-profile figures in the industry, prompting the Kerala government to establish a seven-member special investigation team in August this year.
