Siddique seeks anticipatory bail in Kerala High Court amidst sexual assault allegations
In the rape accusation that has been brought against him, Malayalam actor Siddique addressed the Kerala High Court on Monday to get anticipatory relief. The actor filed a lawsuit in the midst of the ongoing Me-Too controversy, which has rocked the Malayalam cinema business. Following a complaint from a female actor, the Thiruvananthapuram police filed a First Information Report (FIR) and Siddique was named in the case.
Following serious allegations of sexual abuse made by several female actors against well-known Malayalam film figures, including director Ranjith and actors Siddique and Mukesh, Siddique resigned from his position as general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) earlier this week, along with the entire 17-member executive committee.
On her Facebook page, an actor made accusations against Siddique of rape public. She also told the media, “I was a young entrant in the industry at the time. He invited me into a hotel on the pretext of discussing a film project. Such a movie did not exist. It was a trap. He sexually abused and raped me. He also physically assaulted me. I had to give up my dreams and my time, and I went through a lot of mental traumas”
Aside from Siddique, sexual assault allegations were booked against actors Mukesh, Jayasurya, Edavela Babu, Maniyanpilla Raju, and director Ranjith.
Allegations of sexual assault against prominent figures in the Malayalam cinema business surfaced subsequent to the release of the Justice Hema Committee report, which revealed startling details of crimes against women within the industry. The entire business was rocked by the report, which contained startling tales of harassment, exploitation, and mistreatment of female professionals.
Released on August 19, the investigation revealed that approximately ten to fifteen men, who hold positions of authority as producers, directors, and actors, govern and exercise influence over the Malayalam cinema industry. The identities of the accused and witnesses were redacted. Mohanlal stepped down as AMMA president after the report was released.
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Mamata asks TMC nominees not to leave counting centres as EC data shows BJP leading
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday urged TMC candidates and agents to remain vigilant and not to leave counting centres, alleging that there was a "game plan" by the BJP and the Election Commission to show the saffron party taking a lead in the early trends of counting.
In a video message issued during the counting of votes, the TMC supremo appealed to party workers to stay put and not to lose morale.
"I appeal to everyone that neither TMC candidates nor counting agents should abandon counting centres," she said.
As trends on the Election Commission website indicated the BJP leading in 188 seats against the TMC's 94, Banerjee maintained that her party was still ahead in a significant number of constituencies.
"We are still ahead in 170 seats, but I request everyone not to lose hope," she said, adding that there were "around 70 to 100 seats where we are leading, but they are not sharing the data of those seats".
"A false narrative is being spread," she alleged.
The chief minister accused the Election Commission of "not declaring results or leads" in areas where the TMC was ahead.
"This is a game plan by the EC and the BJP as it (poll panel) is not declaring results or leads in areas where we are leading," she said.
Banerjee also alleged irregularities in the counting process at some locations.
"In several places, counting has been stopped after the first two to three rounds. In Kalyani, we have caught seven machines with severe anomalies," she claimed.
She further alleged that TMC workers were being "harassed with the help of central forces" and that party offices were being "vandalised and forcefully captured".
"With the help of central forces, they are harassing and torturing AITC workers. Our offices have been vandalised," she said, also alleging that voter list revision exercises were "purposefully done to target seats where we were strong".
Seeking to reassure party workers, Banerjee said more rounds of counting were yet to take place and urged them to stay firm.
"Fourteen to eighteen rounds of counting will happen. You will surely emerge victorious. Don't be afraid; fight like tigers," she said.
Her remarks came as counting trends suggested that the BJP was leading in 188 seats and had crossed the halfway mark of 148 in the 294-member assembly, pointing to a potential shift in the state's political landscape.
Counting for 293 constituencies was underway with postal ballots, followed by EVM votes.
Officials cautioned that trends could change as more rounds are counted, and final results would be known later in the day.
জরুরি বার্তা pic.twitter.com/Uc82oihwEL
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 4, 2026
