Malayalam actor Siddique appeared before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Saturday for questioning in a rape case. This is his second appearance, following a four-hour questioning earlier in the week. The case was filed after a young actress accused him of sexually assaulting her at a Thiruvananthapuram hotel while promising her a film role. Siddique arrived at the Thiruvananthapuram District Police Command Centre around 10:40 a.m.
Last week, the Supreme Court gave him interim protection from arrest after the Kerala High Court rejected his bail plea, citing the seriousness of the charges. He faces charges under Sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
Siddique has denied the allegations, claiming the complainant has been making false accusations since 2019. His case is part of a broader investigation into sexual harassment claims against Malayalam film personalities, based on the Justice K Hema Committee report. Multiple FIRs have been registered in connection with the investigation.
Siddique was questioned by the SIT for about three hours on October 7. He had earlier sent an email to the SIT, saying he was ready to cooperate. In August, the Museum police in Thiruvananthapuram charged him under sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC, based on a complaint from a female colleague. She alleged that Siddique sexually assaulted her at the Mascot Hotel in Thiruvananthapuram on January 28, 2016. Siddique has denied these claims.
On September 24, the Kerala High Court denied Siddique’s anticipatory bail, stressing the seriousness of the charges and the need for custodial interrogation for a thorough investigation. However, on September 30, the Supreme Court granted him protection from arrest. Siddique’s case is one of many against prominent figures in the Malayalam film industry following the Justice Hema Committee report.
Siddique had contended in court that the actress has been harassing him since 2019 by making repeated claims on social media that he tried to sexually misbehave with her at a theatre in 2016, and after the Justice Hema Committee report was published, she made a more serious allegation of rape at a different place in the same year.
(With inputs from PTI)
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