An actress filed a criminal intimidation and rape case against actor Siddique under sections 376 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code. However, Siddique, the actor, refutes every accusation
Malayalam film star Siddique is filing a case against the Supreme Court for sexual harassment and seeking anticipatory bail. He had filed an appeal for anticipatory bail in the Supreme Court after the Kerala High Court disallowed his anticipatory bail plea. The FIR that was lodged in August of this year against Siddique on charges of sexual harassment by an actress, has caused much furore. She charged him with sexual harassment and exploitation after the Justice Hema Committee report was made public.
The actress has filed a complaint against actor Siddique under sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). However, Siddique has given categorical denials to the accusations, and a detailed court order is still pending. This is the legal development that came after Siddique requested anticipatory bail on September 2 in reply to a rape case lodged against him. Many serious accusations have been made by several women actors against very prominent figures in the industry including director Ranjith, actor Mukesh, Siddique and others.
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The findings of the Hema Committee have shaken Malayalam cinema. Just recently, the “Me Too” movement shocked the Malayalam film industry with its multi shock exposé of sexual harassment cases. In the wake of this sex scandal, Siddique, general secretary of Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), quit the post. The whole executive committee-including all its 17 members-quit in protest. Besides, Siddique, Mukesh, Jayasurya, Edavela Babu, and Maniyanpilla Raju are some of the actors for whom sexual assault allegations have emerged against them. It was only after the report of the Justice Hema Committee, which detailed heart-wrenching testimonies of continuous harassment, abuse, and mistreatment of women from players in the industry, that allegations started coming in.
The Hema Committee report, published on August 19, redacting the names of the witnesses and the accused, said that it is dominated and controlled by about 10 to 15 male producers, directors, and actors.
