Supreme Court Grants Anticipatory Bail to Malayalam Actor Siddique in a Rape and Sexual Assault Case

Today (November 19, 2024), the Supreme Court (SC) bench of Justice Bela M Trivedi and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma granted anticipatory bail to Malayalam actor Siddique in a rape and sexual assault case registered against him based on allegations of a young actress. The bench directed him to deposit his passport in the lower court and cooperate with the investigating officers. The Trial court will decide other bail conditions. While granting him relief, the bench observed, “We deem it appropriate not to assign elaborate reasons, particularly considering the sensitivity of the case. However, considering the fact that the complainant had filed the complaint almost eight years after the alleged incident which had taken place in 2016 and the complainant had also posted the posts on Facebook somewhere in 2018 making allegations about 14 people including the appellant with regard to the alleged sexual abuse and also the fact that she had not gone to the Hema Committee, which was set up by the Government of Kerala, we are inclined to accept the present appeal.” During the proceedings, Justice Trivedi asked the counsel appearing for the accused, “You had the courage to post the complaint on Facebook but not to go to the police?” 

Earlier on September 30, the SC bench granted anticipatory bail to Malayalam actor Siddique which was opposed by the Kerala police. The police submitted a status report opposing his bail which illustrated, “Even though the investigation at the initial stage, there is a stockpile of evidence against him. Considering the influence and clout of the accused some of the evidence will be tampered and witnesses will be threatened. The witnesses who have boldly come forward after the Justice Hema Commission report, will step back if the interim protection to the accused is indefinitely prolonged. The custodial interrogation of the petitioner is absolutely necessary in this case for the reasons reported. Moreover, if bail is granted a message will be sent that the policy of zero tolerance towards crime against women and children is a mere illusion. Considering these factors, the petitioner's influence, the risk to the integrity of the investigation, and the broader public interest in cases involving crimes against women are strong grounds for opposing bail.” During the proceedings today, Advocate Vrinda Grover, Senior Advocate V Giri, Senior Advocate Ranjit Kumar, and Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi appeared for the complainant, Siddique, the State of Kerala, and the accused respectively. The bench made the anticipator bail granted to Siddique on September 30, absolute.