Kochi: In a relief to rape accused actor Siddique, the Supreme Court today extended the interim anticipatory bail granted to him against whom an young actress had alleged of raping her, media reports said.
A division bench of the court adjourned the hearing after the actor sought time to file a rejoinder to the status report filed by the Kerala Police opposing his petition. Kerala informed the court that Siddique was not cooperating with the investigation and accused him of destroying the evidence, the reports said.
On the court’s query on a delay of eight years on part of the victim for lodging a complaint against the actor, the government counsel said that she mustered the courage after publication of the Justice Hema Committee’s report on exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry.
“The counsel argued that Siddique had destroyed electronic gadgets and deactivated his social media account to derail the investigation.
The complainant’s counsel Vrinda Grover, said that she had been repeatedly raising the issue in her Facebook account since 2018.
The actress made allegations that Siddique sexually exploited her in 2016 by offering opportunities in the film industry.
She lodged an FIR under Sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code in 2024.
On September 30, the Apex Court granted interim relief to Siqqique for two weeks.
The Kerala police had opposed bail to Siddique on the grounds that he was an extremely influential person.
The police said that the petitioner was not cooperating with the investigating agencies in the ongoing investigation and that he had destroyed evidence and deactivated social media accounts.
The police said that custodial interrogation of the petitioner is absolutely necessary.
On September 24, the Kerala High Court had dismissed his anticipatory bail.
Challenging the High Court’s order, he filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court. The State and the victim had filed caveats.
Relief to Siddique
