A SIT team headed by Crime Branch SP Merin Joseph interrogated Siddique at the Cantonment Police Station in Thiruvananthapuram for two hours on Saturday.
Published Oct 12, 2024 | 9:49 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 12, 2024 | 9:49 PM
Malayalam actor Siddique. (Instagram/ acto.Siddique)
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is preparing to seek custody of actor Siddique, citing his non-cooperation in an ongoing investigation related to a complaint of rape against him lodged by a female actor.
Siddique, who appeared for questioning on Saturday, 12 October, reportedly provided unsatisfactory responses and failed to assist the investigation.
The actor was interrogated for two hours at the Cantonment Police Station in Thiruvananthapuram by a team under Crime Branch Superintendent of Police (SP) Merin Joseph, a key member of the SIT.
Sources indicated that Siddique claimed ignorance regarding the whereabouts of his phone, which was in his possession on the night of the alleged incident. His refusal to divulge further information prompted the SIT to consider approaching the court for his custody.
Siddique, the former general secretary of AMMA, refused to respond to the media as he left the police station.
Investigators confirmed that no additional notices would be served to him, and the SIT will proceed by filing a request for his custody in court.
The SIT was questioning Siddique for the second time, after the Supreme Court on 30 September, granted him interim anticipatory bail for two weeks, providing temporary relief from arrest.
The case against Siddique was registered by the Museum Police in August following the woman’s complaint.
She accused the actor of raping her on 28 January 2016, at Mascot Hotel in Thiruvananthapuram after a film preview.
The complaint came in the wake of the Justice Hema Committee report, which exposed harassment and misconduct in the Malayalam film industry.
Siddique had earlier sought anticipatory bail from the Kerala High Court, but it was denied on 24 September, with the court emphasising the need for custodial interrogation.
Rejecting Siddique’s argument that the complaint was lodged late, the court observed that victims of sexual abuse and assault may experience psychological, emotional and social barriers that may delay in their reporting the matter, which necessarily has to be understood in the context of the trauma.
After his petition was dismissed, Siddique went into hiding. On 30 September, the Supreme Court granted him interim anticipatory bail for two weeks.
In a recent email to the investigation team, Siddique expressed his willingness to cooperate with the probe.
However, police sources state that his non-cooperation during questioning has compelled the SIT to take a stronger stance.
Siddique has been charged under Sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The actor, however, maintained that the accusations were part of a “prolonged campaign” against him since 2019.
The SIT is expected to move court shortly, seeking his custody for further interrogation to fill the gaps in the investigation.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
