Wed Sep 25 20:11:52 UTC 2024: ## Malayalam Actor Siddique on the Run After Rape Allegations, Police Launch Hunt

**Kochi, Kerala:** Malayalam actor Siddique, facing a rape case filed by a fellow actor, is reportedly on the run after a Kerala High Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea. The 61-year-old actor’s phone has been switched off since Tuesday, and his Aluva residence was found locked.

Police have issued a lookout notice for Siddique, believing he may have fled the state. The notice has been circulated to all district police chiefs in Kerala and shared with other states.

The FIR against Siddique was registered on August 27 based on the complaint of a female actor, who accused him of sexual assault during a hotel meeting for a movie preview. The complaint came following the release of the Hema Committee report, which highlighted widespread sexual harassment issues within the Malayalam film industry.

The survivor has expressed concern over Siddique’s disappearance, fearing potential interference from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to investigate the allegations.

Following the accusations, Siddique resigned from his position as General Secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA). He has been charged with rape and criminal intimidation.

Siddique, who claimed in his bail plea that the complainant had harassed him with false accusations since 2019, has now approached the Supreme Court to challenge the Kerala High Court’s order.

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