Actor Siddique appears for questioning in sexual assault case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Actor Siddique appeared for questioning today at the Thiruvananthapuram police commissioner's office in connection with a rape case filed against him by a young actress. Initially, he reached the commissioner's office but was later directed to the police control room for the interrogation. The actor was accompanied by his son.

As Siddique’s anticipatory bail application is pending before the Supreme Court, the investigation team has not yet decided whether to issue a formal notice. Siddique, however, voluntarily informed the authorities that he was ready to cooperate with the investigation, a move that is being viewed as strategic by the police.

The case was registered after the actress alleged that Siddique had invited her to the Mascot Hotel under the pretense of a film discussion, where he then molested her. According to the complaint, the actress stated that she first met Siddique through social media during her high school years. He later invited her and her parents to attend a preview screening of a film at Nila Theatre in Thiruvananthapuram. Following the screening, Siddique allegedly asked her to meet him at the Mascot Hotel to discuss a film project. When she arrived, she claimed that she was locked in a room and molested but managed to escape.

Siddique has admitted to having met the complainant in Thiruvananthapuram. The Supreme Court had granted him temporary relief by staying his arrest for two weeks after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the Kerala High Court. He had gone into hiding after the High Court’s decision but surfaced following the Supreme Court's stay.