Rape case registered against Malayalam actor Siddique

This is the second FIR against a high profile film personality following the allegations of sexual harassment against various directors and actors in the wake of revelations in the Justice Hema Committee report.

Thiruvananthapuram: A rape case has been registered against Malayalam actor Siddique on the basis of the sexual allegations raised by an actor as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) started recording the statement of women who raised sexual allegations against film personalities in Kerala.

So far the police received over 15 petitions regarding the sexual harassment in the Malayalm film industry. The SIT comprising women IPS officers will probe into all cases. Separate cases will be registered after recording statements of the victims. Counter petitions filed by some of the accused will be also considered by the team.

The rape case against Siddique was registered in Thiruvananthapuram as the alleged incident took place in a hotel in the capital city. A case is also likely to be registered against actor Jayasurya in Thiruvananthapuram as the alleged sexual assault took place at the government secretariat. 'Maniyanpilla' Raju and 'Idavela' Babu are among the other prominent personalities facing sexual assault allegations.

CPI(M) MLA and actor M Mukesh may also face sexual assault case. Even as the Congress and the BJP demanded his resignation as MLA, CPI(M) continued to back him. Congress is unlikely to press further for Mukesh's resignation as couple of Congress MLAs are also accused in sexual assault cases. Mukesh could be removed from the panel formed by the government for framing policy for the film industry. Several women activists and writers have also demanded Mukesh's resignation.

Congress also continued the criticism against the government for not taking action on the sexual assaults revealed in the Justice Hema committee report. Opposition leader V D Satheesan alleged that the CPI(M)-led government was maintaining an anti-women stand.

Meanwhile, women executive members of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) Sarayu and Ananya told the media on Wednesday that they were not in favour of mass resignation of the executive committee headed by president famed actor Mohanlal.