Malayalam actor Siddique, embroiled in a #MeToo case, has reportedly gone into hiding after the Kerala High Court denied his anticipatory bail plea. Authorities are in pursuit of the actor, with the Kerala police ramping up their efforts to locate him.?
According to recent reports, Siddique's phone was briefly active on Wednesday but he did not respond to calls, as reported by Manorama.A lookout circular has been issued, and the police have intensified their search to apprehend the actor. He is expected to appeal to the Supreme Court after his plea for interim bail was turned down by the Kerala HC.?
Siddique went into hiding shortly after the court's decision, with his son seen at his counsel’s office, reportedly preparing to move forward with the Supreme Court appeal.The charges against Siddique were brought by a former actress, who alleged that he raped her in 2016 at a government-owned hotel in Thiruvananthapuram. This accusation came to light as part of the ongoing #MeToo movement in Malayalam cinema, which has shaken the industry.?
Siddique, born on 1 October 1962 in Kochi, Kerala, has been a towering figure in the Malayalam film industry. Over the course of his career, he has appeared in more than 350 films, gaining recognition for his performances in a variety of roles.?
He made his acting debut with the film Aa Neram Alppa Dooram in 1985 but rose to fame with the 1990 comedy In Harihar Nagar.?Following that, Siddique starred in numerous successful films, such as Neru, Sathyameva Jayathe, Lelam, and Drishyam 2.?
Apart from his acting career, Siddique has also ventured into film production. He produced Nandanam in 2002 and Bada Dosth in 2006, both of which received positive reviews. His prominence in Mollywood has made his involvement in this case particularly shocking to fans and the wider public.?
The allegations against Siddique surfaced after the release of the Hema Committee report on sexual misconduct in the Malayalam film industry. Actress Revathy Sampath, in a media interaction, accused the actor of sexually assaulting her when she was 21 years old.?
She detailed the incident, explaining that Siddique initially contacted her on Facebook under the pretence of discussing a movie role."After completing my Plus Two, I had a terrible experience. Siddique sent me messages on Facebook. I had come to discuss a film. This incident occurred when I was 21 years old. He first approached me by calling me 'Mole.' There was abuse from Siddique's side. During the discussion, he sexually abused me. The face he shows now is not the one I saw back then," Revathy said during the interview.?
She further shared her ordeal, saying, "He assaulted me, both physically and mentally. Siddique is a criminal. I went through severe mental trauma. It even affected my professional life. No system stood by me."
Last month, an FIR was lodged against Siddique under sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC after another actress accused him of sexually assaulting her at a state-owned hotel. The case was registered at the Museum police station in Thiruvananthapuram.?
After this revelation, Siddique, who had recently been elected as the General Secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), stepped down from his position. Following his resignation, the entire committee, led by President Mohanlal, also decided to step down.?
In court, Siddique argued that the actress in question had been harassing him since 2019 by repeatedly accusing him on social media of attempting to molest her at a theatre in 2016. After the Justice Hema Committee report came to light, she escalated her allegations, accusing him of rape at a different location during the same year.?
In a new development, reports suggest that the complainant and the Kerala government plan to file a caveat petition in the Supreme Court to counter Siddique’s anticipated appeal. If this caveat is submitted, it may create further complications for the actor, who has remained out of the public eye since Saturday.?
Siddique was last seen at the funeral of veteran actress Kaviyoor Ponnamma, where he was seen overseeing the arrangements for her last rites. Since then, there has been no confirmed sighting of the actor, and the police continue their efforts to track him down.
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