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The Supreme Court of India has granted temporary relief to Malayalam actor Siddique in a rape case, deferring the hearing of his bail petition until next week. This decision comes after Siddique's lawyer, Mukul Rohatgi, requested a delay, highlighting that the investigating agency has been repeatedly questioning Siddique about his phone and laptop from 2016, which he no longer possesses. The court extended the interim protection order issued on September 30th, shielding Siddique from arrest, while simultaneously directing him to continue cooperating with the ongoing investigation. The Kerala government previously expressed concerns to the court about Siddique's lack of cooperation with the investigation, stating that he had been reluctant to answer key questions related to the case.
The case centers around allegations of rape filed against Siddique. The complainant, who came forward with her accusations following the publication of the Justice Hema Committee's report on abuses within the Malayalam film industry, alleged that she filed the FIR eight years after the alleged incident due to fear and the prevalent culture of silence. However, Siddique's legal team has countered these claims, asserting that the actor has fully cooperated with the police's investigation. They further pointed out that the probe agency's demand for his passport and Aadhaar number seemed excessive given that he had only met the complainant once.
The delay in the hearing and the extension of Siddique's interim protection have raised concerns regarding the potential impact on other women who have come forward with similar accusations in the Malayalam film industry. The lawyer representing the victim highlighted the demoralizing effect of granting protection to Siddique while thirty other FIRs filed by women actors remain unresolved. The legal battle continues with Siddique's legal team seeking a favorable outcome in the bail petition while the victim's legal team urges the court to consider the context of the Hema Committee report and the widespread culture of silence in the industry. This case underscores the ongoing struggle for justice and accountability in addressing sexual violence, particularly within the realm of entertainment and power dynamics.
Source: Malayalam actor Siddique receives relief in rape case, Supreme Court extends interim protection