Here's everything you need to know about actor, Siddique, accused of molesting a former actress. The actor has gone missing after his bail rejection.
Popular Malayalam actor, Siddique is making headlines after being accused of molesting a former actress. The charges against Siddique are based on a complaint made by an actress who claimed that he molested her at a government-owned hotel in Thiruvananthapuram back in 2016. Sources reveal that the victim hesitated to report the incident but decided to speak up following the release of the Hema Committee report last month.
According to the actress, in her complaint against Siddique, she stated that the actor forced her for sexual favours in return of a role in a Tamil movie. He then molested her. The entire community of Malayalam movie artists, led by legendary actor, Mohanlal had then stepped down when the charges surfaced and Siddique too, who was elected as general secretary recently, quit.
Although, Sidique refused the accusations and claimed that the complainant had been harassing him since 2019 by making unfounded claims on social media channels. He mentioned that the actress had accused him earlier of misconduct in 2016 but only intensified her accusations to molestation following the Hema Committee's report.
According to the report, an arrest warrant has been issued against Malayalam actor, Siddique by Kerala Police in connection with the molestation case. The court rejected his anticipatory bail plea, and Siddique went missing after the court’s announcement. Police launched a search operation to locate him. The victim told in an interview after the rejection of bail.September 24, 2024. The victim said:
"I am happy with today's (court) verdict. I looking forward to the things that are ahead. The important thing is that I am dissatisfied with the investigation of SIT. There has to be some confidentiality in the investigation."
The actor's houses in Kochi are being monitored as he remains out of sight. His son was spotted at the legal firm, Raman Pillai Association from where it is clear that he could file a petition in Supreme Court. As per the reports, Siddique's phone was last active in Palarivattom. The High Court order came as a shot in the arm for the investigation team, which by this time had built new strong evidences and witness statements that put Siddique in a further complicated situation about the molestation case.
Arguing for Siddique's defence team, led by senior advocate, B Raman Pillai, said the charges were consumed and also added they had failed to bring up molestation in their first complaints. Though he denied the charges, saying this is a well-scripted story, the court did not buy it, especially after the additional prosecutor proved that Siddique, along with other accused and complainant, were together at Mascot hotel in 2012, which, as per complaint, was the year of the incident.
The police, meanwhile, slapped eleven FIRs on different members of the Malayalam film industry, including directors, actors and producers after the Hema Committee report came out. Other than Siddique, stars such as Jayasurya, Nivin Pauly Maniyanpilla Raja, Mukesh Madhavan Edavela Babu and directors like Ranjith VK Prakash have been called out in the 'MeToo' movement.
What are your thoughts on the controversy about the famous Malayalam superstar, Siddique? Let us know!
Also Read: Urmila Matondkar Unfollows Mohsin Akhtar On Social Media Amid Divorce Rumours, He Still Follows Her