Actor Siddique Gets Protection From Arrest For 1 More Week In 'Rape' Case After SC Extends Interim Order
Supreme Court today questioned how the investigating officer expect Actor Siddique to hand over an iPhone he used in 2016.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended by another week the interim anticipatory bail granted to Malayalam actor Siddique in a rape case registered against him based on allegations levelled by a young actress.
The bench comprising Justices Bela Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma adjourned the hearing till next week after the actor's lawyer requested the same citing bad throat.
At the outset of hearing, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi informed the top court that the police kept asking about his phone and laptop used in 2016.
Justice Satish Chandra Sharma then asked how a person can be asked to hand over the phone used in 2016.
"He is saying you want the 2016 iPhone. As per my personal experience, I bought an iphone 16, giving my iPhone 15 back in the shop," Justice Sharma remarked.
The bench also asked if the actor was was appearing before the investigating officer and cooperating.
Senior Advocate Ranjit Kumar appearing for state informed the court that the actor was appearing but not cooperating with the investigation and was giving evasive responses.
On September 24, the Kerala High Court dismissed his petition seeking anticipatory bail, observing that the materials on record indicated his prima facie involvement in the crime. The High Court also held that the acts alleged against Siddique would come within the ambit of the expanded definition of "rape".
Actor Siddique then moved the top court against this high court order seeking anticipatory bail.
On September 30, the Supreme Court had granted him an interim protection from arrest to in a rape case registered against him based on allegations by a Malayalam actress. On October 22, the top court extended the interim protection from arrest for two weeks. .
After the Justice Hema Committee report was made public, a young actress came forward alleging that Siddique sexually exploited her in 2016 when she met him in a hotel room after he offered her opportunities in the film industry. Following this complaint, the actor was forced to step down as the general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA).
Following her allegations, the young actress filed an FIR alleging rape and criminal intimidation by Siddique.
The case against Siddique came in the aftermath of the Justice Hema Committee report on sexual harassment and gender inequality against women in Malayalam cinema.
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