The Kerala High Court today refused to grant anticipatory bail to Malayalam actor Siddique in a rape case filed against him. The case against Siddique was registered based on a complaint by an actress who accused him of raping her at the state-owned Hotel in 2016.

The former actress came forward with her complaint soon after the Hema Committee report, which was published last month and brought out the pitiable condition of women in the Malayalam film industry. Since then, there has been a steady stream of complaints from actresses against actors, directors, and producers in the Malayalam film industry.

Siddique, who was recently elected as the general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) quit the post. Thereafter, the entire committee chaired by President Mohanlal also resigned.

Siddique strongly put his stance that the actress has been harassing him since 2019 by making repeated claims on social media, and after the Hema Committee report was published, she made the more serious allegation of rape. The police have registered 11 FIRs against various film personalities after former actresses revealed how they were exploited.