Police find actor Siddique guilty in rape case, chargesheet filed

The Kerala Police have submitted a chargesheet against Malayalam actor Siddique, confirming allegations of rape made by an actor. The chargesheet details that Siddique lured the actor to Mascot Hotel in Thiruvananthapuram under the pretext of a film discussion in 2016, where he allegedly assaulted her. The investigation, conducted by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), has reportedly gathered substantial digital evidence and witness testimonies supporting the survivor’s claims.

The case gained renewed attention following the release of the Justice K Hema Committee Report, which exposed widespread sexual harassment and gender discrimination within the Malayalam film industry. The actress lodged her complaint in early 2024, citing fear of repercussions as a reason for the delay. Advocate Vrinda Grover, representing the complainant, defended the timing of the allegations, stating that the report’s findings had encouraged victims to come forward.

Siddique had initially evaded questioning and sought bail from the Kerala High Court, claiming that the complainant had been harassing him since 2019 with various accusations. His plea was rejected by the Kerala High Court, leading him to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Later, the Supreme Court granted Siddique anticipatory bail, providing interim protection from arrest. A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma ruled that Siddique should not be taken into custody as long as he cooperated with the investigation. His counsel, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, argued against the complainant’s delay in reporting the incident, emphasising that no formal complaint had been filed until 2024. However, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the State of Kerala, highlighted the difficulty survivors face when speaking out against powerful figures.