Malayalam actor Siddiqui, who was under police radar for a week following rape allegations, reappeared after receiving anticipatory bail from the Supreme Court. The actor had been untraceable, leading to Kerala Police issuing a lookout notice for him. After a week of evading arrest and with his mobile switched off, Siddiqui finally appeared in public, outside his lawyer’s office in Ernakulam, smiling but remaining silent.
A Week-Long Hide and Seek Ends
Siddiqui, accused of rape, had been absconding for a week, leaving Kerala Police searching for him. His disappearance began after the Kerala High Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea, leading the police to intensify efforts to locate him. Despite the police labeling him as ‘absconding,’ Siddiqui managed to secure anticipatory bail from the Supreme Court on Monday.
On Tuesday, the actor was seen outside the office of B Raman Pillai & Associates in Ernakulam North. Media personnel quickly gathered, hoping to get a statement, but Siddiqui remained silent and smiled as he got into his car with his son.
Supreme Court’s Relief to Siddiqui
In a significant development, a bench of Supreme Court Justices Bela M Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma provided Siddiqui with anticipatory bail. The court issued notices to the Kerala government and the alleged victim, seeking their responses within two weeks.
The bench directed, “If arrested in connection with Crime No. 1192/2024 of Museum Police Station, Thiruvananthapuram, the petitioner will be released on bail subject to conditions.” Siddiqui was also instructed to cooperate with the investigation and appear before the investigating officer.
Kerala Police’s Search and the Lookout Notice
Amid Siddiqui’s disappearance, Kerala Police issued a lookout notice featuring his photograph. The notice, published in various newspapers, stated that the actor was facing charges under sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in a case filed at the Museum Police Station in Thiruvananthapuram.
The Background of the Case
The rape allegations against Siddiqui surfaced following the Justice Hema Committee report, which shed light on various issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. Shortly after the report, a woman formally accused Siddiqui of rape, leading to his resignation from his position as General Secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA).
While the accusations have cast a shadow over his career, Siddiqui has strongly denied the claims, referring to them as part of a “criminal conspiracy” against him.
As the case progresses, Siddiqui’s legal team is expected to continue fighting the charges, while the Kerala Police will move forward with their investigation under the directives of the Supreme Court.
