Lookout Notice Issued For Actor Siddique After HC Denies Anticipatory Bail

The Kerala Police issued a lookout notice for actor Siddique in Malayalam and English after his bail was dismissed by the Kerala High Court on Tuesday. The compatriots are requested to inform the Police who locate him anywhere.

Since he was denied anticipatory bail, Siddique has been absconding from his Kochi residence and his phone is switched off suggesting that he may be evading authorities. Police sources confirm there are no technical grounds to delay the arrest. The Kerala Police have circulated the lookout notice everywhere in places like airports and railway stations against him over allegations of sexual assault.

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The complainant filed a case against actor Siddique claiming that he misbehaved with her causing significant distress at a young age. Siddique also filed a complaint against the junior artist alleging that the case had no bounds and no credibility and then pleaded for anticipatory bail. The court later denied his bail stating that the case against him was of serious sexual assault and could not be granted anticipatory bail.

Siddique approached the Supreme Court seeking anticipatory bail after the Kerala High Court denied his request on Tuesday. He claimed he has been falsely implicated in the rape case due to an ongoing dispute between the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) and Women in Cinema Collective (WCC). The case was filed by a young actress who alleged that Siddique raped her at a state-owned hotel in Thiruvananthapuram in 2016.

Siddique, 65, argued that as a senior citizen, he poses no threat to witnesses or evidence and promises to cooperate with the court’s terms. However, the Kerala High Court dismissed his bail plea citing prima facie evidence of his involvement and the necessity of custodial interrogation.

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The case was linked to the revelations of the Hema Committee report, released last month after it was submitted four years ago, revealed the issues actors and supporting technicians face in the Malayalam film industry. Since then, both the general public and many actors have been demanding action from the government on the accusations mentioned in the report. The report has revealed that casting couch and various other forms of malpractice exist in the industry.