Sidhique’s legal battle: Unfolding allegations in Malayalam cinema

Malayalam film actor Sidhique was questioned again by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) over a rape case registered against him.

This is the second time he has faced investigators following a complaint filed by a young female actor. On Saturday, Sidhique spent nearly two hours at the Cantonment police station for questioning, in addition to an earlier four-hour session earlier in the week.

The charges stem from an incident in which he is accused of sexually assaulting a young female actor at a hotel in Thiruvananthapuram on the pretext of offering her a film role. Notably, the Supreme Court recently granted Sidhique interim protection from arrest, while the Kerala High Court has cited the seriousness of the charges and the need for interrogation in custody.

Sidhique has been booked under Sections 376 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code. He claims the allegations are false and a form of harassment that has been going on since 2019. The case is part of a wider investigation into claims of sexual harassment against prominent Malayalam film figures, following a judicial commission report on such crimes against female actors.

(With input from agencies.)