Actor Siddique has requested anticipatory bail from the Kerala High Court in response to a rape case filed against him. This legal action comes amid a significant “Me Too” movement shaking the Malayalam film industry.
The case against Siddique arose from a complaint by a female actor, leading to an FIR registered by the Thiruvananthapuram police. This week, Siddique resigned as the general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes, along with its 17-member executive committee, amid serious sexual abuse allegations involving prominent figures in the industry, including Siddique, director Ranjith, and actor Mukesh.
Other actors, such as Mukesh, Jayasurya, Edavela Babu, and Maniyanpilla Raju, and director Ranjith are also facing sexual assault charges. These allegations came to light following the publication of the Justice Hema Committee report on August 19, which revealed disturbing details about harassment and exploitation in the industry.
The report indicated that a small group of influential men controls the Malayalam film industry, exacerbating the issue.
