KOCHI: Actor and Kollam MLA M Mukesh was arrested on Tuesday following the complaint from an actress who alleged sexual misconduct. As the High Court rejected the anticipatory bail plea, Siddique, the former general secretary of AMMA, went at large and is still evading arrest.

With Mukesh’s arrest and Siddique getting ‘belt treatment’ from the court, Tuesday saw a dark shadow falling upon Malayalam cinema, dragging the industry to the nadir of shame.

It was after three hours of questioning, that the Special Investigation Team registered Mukesh's arrest. He was later released on anticipatory bail.

Justice C. S. Dias rejected the anticipatory bail application stating that the prima facie case against Siddique will remain based on circumstantial evidence. The complaint is 'extremely serious' and comes under the ambit of rape, the court said. Siddique was also advised to undergo a sexual potency test.

The investigation team issued a lookout notice to prevent the actor from flying to foreign countries. His house in Aluva and Kakkanad were locked and mobile phones were switched off. The police also searched for Siddique in luxury hotels in Kochi.

At 10.30 am on Tuesday, Mukesh appeared in front of AIG Poonguzhali at the Coastal Police headquarters in Marine Drive along with his lawyer. The questioning lasted till 1.15 pm. He was released after taking a sexual potency test at the Ernakulam General Hospital. Mukesh denied a response to the media after coming out from the station.

According to the Aluva native actress, Mukesh sexually assaulted her at a Villa in Maradu on the pretext of offering movie roles. There were also attempts to assault her inside a car in Palakkad Ottapalam, where a shooting was progressing. The statement of the complainant and the collection of evidence had already been completed.

The high court severely arraigned Siddique and his lawyers for alleging doubt in the actress waiting eight years to file a complaint. The court strongly criticised the lawyers who called the complaint ‘baseless sexual accusations’.

“Experience is not a reflection of character. It is a testimony of suffering. There can be many reasons for the delay in complaint. The concern may be how society will see it. There may be fear of threat to life and work.” The court remarked.

Siddique’s son Shaheen interacted with senior advocate B. Raman Pillai and will probably move to the Supreme Court. If the anticipatory bail petition is accepted in the Supreme Court file, it is hoped that the arrest will be avoided for the time being.

MLA M Mukesh’s arrest in the sexual harassment case will be informed to the speaker. The speaker will have to publish a bulletin to inform other members of the legislative assembly about the arrest.