During the Supreme Court hearing of Malayalam actor Siddique’s pre-arrest bail plea in the rape case against him on Monday, the court granted anticipatory bail to the actor and stated that there will be no arrest on conditions laid by the trial court.

The bench, comprising Justice Bela M. Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma, granted interim protection from arrest to the senior actor. It also ordered him to make himself available for investigation in the matter.

Also Read | Lookout Notice Issued For Actor Siddique After High Court Denies Anticipatory Bail

“Issue notice. In the meantime, there shall be no arrest of the petitioner on conditions by trial court and subject to him joining the investigation,” stated Justice Trivedi.

The senior actor had approached the top court seeking anticipatory bail in connection with a rape case filed against him by an actress after the Kerala High Court denied him the same on September 24.

The state high court observed that the material placed on record prima facie showed that the actor may be involved in the crime. Denying the bail, the court further noted that there was a possibility that he may attempt to influence witnesses.

Siddique is currently absconding from the state police. A lookout notice for the actor was issued in Malayalam and English after his bail was denied. Meanwhile, the complainant claimed that the police helped the actor move to a hideout.

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The case against the Malayalam actor was registered after an actress accused him of raping her after she refused his demands for sexual favours in an exchange for a role in a movie at Thiruvananthapuram’s Mascot Hotel in 2016.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been set up to investigate the sexual abuse cases registered following the release of the Hema Committee Report on August 19. The report unleashed serious allegations against prominent actors, filmmakers, and other notable figures within the Malayalam film industry.