Malayalam actor Siddique absconding to evade arrest in rape case, police intensify search

Veteran Malayalam actor Siddique remains untraceable as Kerala police intensify efforts to arrest him on rape charges. After his anticipatory bail was rejected by the Kerala High Court, Siddique went into hiding and is reportedly seeking relief from the Supreme Court. 

Kerala Police Crime Branch head Sparjan Kumar has directed the police to search for and arrest Siddique. According to reports, Siddique's phone has been switched off since Tuesday. However, when a Malayalam news channel attempted to contact him, the phone rang briefly before being disconnected.

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According to reports, a lookout circular has been issued by the police to prevent him from fleeing the country, raising concerns about his sudden disappearance and the police’s preparedness in handling the case. He was last seen in public at the funeral of veteran actress Kaviyoor Ponnamma, who passed away last week. Questions have arisen about whether the investigating officers failed to anticipate Siddique's disappearance.

In the wake of the Hema Committee report released in August, a female actor accused Siddique of sexually assaulting her. After she publicly named him and shared details of the alleged incidents, the police began investigating based on her complaint. Reports indicate that the police have gathered sufficient evidence to confirm Siddique and the survivor were in the same hotel room when the alleged incident occurred. This evidence reportedly played a key role in the Kerala High Court's decision to reject his bail plea. The court accepted the prosecution's argument regarding the possibility of Siddique using his influence to intimidate the complainant and tamper with evidence. It also stated that Siddique's custodial interrogation was "inevitable" for a fair investigation.

Siddique, an influential member of the Malayalam film industry, has left the industry in shock with the unfolding developments.

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