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. A police team, investigating the case, searched his residences but could not locate him, sparking concern about his whereabouts. Siddique was last seen in public on Saturday, attending to arrangements for the last rites of veteran actress Kaviyoor Ponnamma.
Following the court’s denial, Siddique is expected to appeal the decision in the Supreme Court. A lookout notice has been issued at all exit points across India, with heightened attention at airports. Both of his mobile phones have been switched off.
The case against Siddique stems from an actress’s accusation that he raped her while discussing a film project. These allegations come at a tense moment for the Malayalam film industry, following the release of the Justice Hema Committee report, which exposed systemic exploitation and harassment in the industry.
In the wake of the accusations, Siddique resigned from his position as General Secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA). His resignation was followed by the entire AMMA committee, led by President Mohanlal.
Siddique has denied the charges, claiming that the actress has harassed him since 2019 with false allegations, including an earlier accusation of an attempted sexual assault in 2016. However, after the release of the Justice Hema Committee report, the actress escalated her claims to rape.
While several actors in similar cases have been granted court relief, Siddique is the first to be denied anticipatory bail.