Malayalam actor Siddique has reportedly gone missing after the Kerala High Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea in a rape case filed by an actress. Despite efforts by police teams to locate him at his residence, Siddique’s whereabouts remain unknown, prompting concern. The actor was last seen in public on Saturday during the funeral arrangements for veteran actress Kaviyoor Ponnamma.
In response to the court’s decision, Siddique is expected to challenge the ruling in the Supreme Court. Authorities have issued a lookout notice at all exit points across India, focusing on airports. Both of Siddique’s mobile phones have been switched off, further complicating the search.
The case stems from allegations by an actress who claims that Siddique raped her during discussions regarding a film project. The charges come amidst heightened scrutiny of the Malayalam film industry following the release of the Justice Hema Committee report, which highlighted widespread exploitation and harassment in the industry.
In light of the allegations, Siddique resigned from his role as General Secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), and the entire AMMA committee, led by President Mohanlal, also resigned. The case has brought renewed focus on the systemic issues of harassment in the industry, especially given the findings of the Justice Hema Committee report.
Siddique has denied the accusations, asserting that the actress has made repeated false claims since 2019, including an earlier allegation of an attempted sexual assault in 2016. According to Siddique, the actress escalated her accusations of rape after the release of the Hema Committee report.
While many actors facing similar allegations have been granted bail, Siddique is the first to have his anticipatory bail plea rejected, creating significant legal and public scrutiny. The case has further intensified the ongoing discourse about sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry, and the outcome of Siddique’s anticipated Supreme Court appeal will be closely watched.
