The Supreme Court of India granted anticipatory bail to Malayalam actor Siddique on Tuesday, in connection with an alleged sexual assault incident from 2016. Justices Bela M. Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma ruled that the actor must surrender his passport and fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
The legal proceedings stem from a complaint that followed the Justice Hema Commission’s report, which shed light on the extensive sexual harassment and discrimination faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. The complaint against Siddique was lodged in August, significantly delayed, eight years after the purported incident.
Previously, on September 30, the court had provided Siddique with interim protection from arrest. However, the Kerala Police have reported difficulties with the actor’s lack of cooperation in the investigation. According to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) handling the case, Siddique has allegedly been obstructive by destroying electronic evidence and deleting his social media accounts.
The anticipatory bail comes after a decision by the Kerala High Court on September 24, which denied Siddique’s plea for bail. The High Court had expressed the necessity for his custodial interrogation, highlighting the grave nature of the allegations against him, to ensure a thorough examination of the case.
This Supreme Court ruling allows Siddique to avoid immediate arrest while continuing to engage with the legal process as required by the investigating authorities.
