Shahrukh Pathan
The Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT), investigating cases following the Hema Committee report, to appoint a Nodal Officer.
The court stated that those receiving threat messages could approach the Nodal Officer to register complaints.
The Hema Committee was formed after a 2017 sexual assault case involving an actor and submitted its findings to the Chief Minister on December 31, 2019.
In a related matter, the Supreme Court on November 12 extended interim protection from arrest to actor Siddique in a rape case. The Court granted relief until the next hearing.
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Siddique, informed the Supreme Court that the investigation agency had been repeatedly asking him about his phone and laptop from 2016, which he no longer possessed.
Court inquired whether Siddique had appeared before the authorities when called. The Kerala Government informed the Court that while he had appeared, he was not cooperating fully.
Justice Sharma remarked that Siddique had handed over his old phone to a shop when he bought a new one.
Rohatgi requested an adjournment due to his health condition. Siddique had approached the Supreme Court seeking anticipatory bail in the rape case. Previously, Kerala Police issued a lookout notice for Siddique, suspecting he might have fled the state after the Kerala High Court denied his anticipatory bail application.
The case is being investigated by an SIT, which was formed by the Kerala government. Siddique, who had been booked by the Museum Police in Thiruvananthapuram on August 27 for rape and criminal intimidation based on a complaint filed by a young actor, has denied the allegations.
The case comes amid a larger “Me Too” movement in the Malayalam film industry, which has seen multiple women actors speak out about sexual abuse.
Siddique resigned from his position as general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) following the allegations, leading to the resignation of the entire 17-member AMMA executive committee. Other prominent figures in the industry, including director Ranjith and actors Mukesh, Jayasurya, and Edavela Babu, have also faced serious accusations.
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