Tue Nov 19 15:39:06 UTC 2024: ## Veteran Malayalam Actor Siddique Granted Supreme Court Anticipatory Bail in Sexual Assault Case
**NEW DELHI** – The Supreme Court of India granted anticipatory bail on Tuesday to veteran Malayalam actor Siddique in a case alleging sexual assault stemming from a 2016 incident. The decision comes after the Kerala High Court rejected his earlier plea.
The case, filed in August 2024, is a consequence of the Justice Hema Commission report, which investigated sexual harassment and discrimination in the Malayalam film industry. The complaint against Siddique, filed eight years after the alleged incident, alleges sexual assault.
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Bela M Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma, stipulated conditions for the bail, requiring Siddique to surrender his passport and fully cooperate with the investigating officer.
The Kerala Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) had previously alleged that Siddique was obstructing the investigation by deleting social media accounts and destroying electronic devices. The SIT’s claims of a lack of cooperation led the High Court to deny bail, citing the need for custodial interrogation. However, the Supreme Court, considering the circumstances, deemed anticipatory bail appropriate. Siddique had received interim protection from arrest on September 30th before today’s final ruling.
First Piper 