Siddique v. State of Kerala and Anr, SLP(Crl) No.13463/2024
On Tuesday (November 12), the Supreme Court extended Malayalam actor Siddique’s interim anticipatory bail by a week in a 2016 rape case filed by a young actress. The hearing was postponed due to the ill-health of Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, counsel for Siddique, who argued that law enforcement’s demand for his client’s 2016 phone and laptop was unreasonable. A bench comprising Justices Bela Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma questioned the practicality of this request.
The State’s counsel, Senior Advocate Ranjit Kumar, alleged that Siddique was not fully cooperating with the investigation, providing evasive responses despite appearing before the investigating officers. Justice Sharma noted that it might be unreasonable to demand a specific device from 2016, acknowledging technological changes.
Previous Hearing and Interim Bail Extensions
Siddique’s interim bail, first granted on September 30, has seen extensions due to ongoing proceedings and his counsel’s requests for additional time to respond to Kerala Police’s status report, which opposes the bail. The police have alleged that Siddique is actively hindering the investigation, with actions like deleting social media accounts and refusing full cooperation.
Background and Key Allegations
The case gained attention after the Justice Hema Committee report, which highlighted abuses faced by women in Malayalam cinema. Following the report’s release, the actress came forward, claiming Siddique exploited her in 2016, luring her under the pretext of offering film opportunities. The complaint led to an FIR under Sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.
During an October hearing, the Kerala Police stated in a report that Siddique, a prominent figure in Malayalam cinema, could use his influence to tamper with evidence and intimidate witnesses. They emphasized that the interim bail posed a risk to the integrity of the investigation and public confidence in the justice system’s stance against crimes targeting women.
Kerala High Court’s Rejection of Siddique’s Bail
The Kerala High Court previously denied Siddique’s anticipatory bail plea on September 24, citing prima facie evidence of his involvement. The court stated that the delay in reporting the alleged crime did not diminish its credibility, explaining that victims of sexual assault often face barriers that delay reporting.
Siddique challenged this ruling in the Supreme Court, arguing that his high-profile status has made him the target of unsupported accusations, and claiming his non-cooperation was due to legitimate concerns regarding the investigation’s focus on obsolete evidence.
The Supreme Court will continue hearing the matter next week, allowing Siddique’s counsel to recover and fully argue the case.
Case Details
Case No.: SLP(Crl) No.13463/2024
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