Malayalam actor Sidhique booked for rape

Second FIR against high-profile film personality following allegations of sexual harassment against various directors, actors in wake of revelations in Justice Hema Committee report

Thiruvananthapuram: A rape case has been registered against Malayalam actor Sidhique following a woman actor’s allegation that he sexually assaulted her in 2016, police said on Wednesday.

An FIR under Sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) has been registered against the actor at the Museum police station, a senior police officer said.

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The case was registered under the IPC as the offence allegedly occurred in 2016.

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.

The first case, under IPC Section 354 (assault or criminal force on woman with intent to outrage her modesty), was against director Ranjith on a complaint by a woman actor from West Bengal regarding an incident which occurred in 2009.

She had alleged that the director had touched her inappropriately with sexual intent after inviting her to act in the movie Paleri Manikyam in 2009.

Following the allegation by the actor, Ranjith resigned from his post as chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy.

Sidhique also resigned from his post as general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) following the allegations against him.

The Justice Hema Committee was constituted by the Kerala government after the 2017 actress assault case and its report revealing instances of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry.

Amidst allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation cropping up against several actors and directors, the state government on August 25 announced the establishment of a seven-member special investigation team to probe them.

Subsequently, more complaints surfaced.