Kerala High Court Denies Anticipatory Bail to Actor Sidhique in Rape Case

The Kerala High Court has rejected Malayalam actor Sidhique's anticipatory bail plea in a rape case, citing the seriousness of the accusations and the need for custodial interrogation. The court emphasized the necessity of a thorough investigation, despite the actor's claims of harassment and false accusations by the complainant.

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of Malayalam actor Sidhique in a rape case, highlighting the gravity of the accusations against him and the need for custodial interrogation.

Justice C S Dias noted that Sidhique's total denial of the incident, pending potency test, and potential to intimidate witnesses and tamper with evidence rendered it inappropriate to grant bail. The court found the evidence prima facie linking Sidhique to the crime and determined that custodial interrogation was crucial.

The court clarified that its observations should not be seen as an opinion on the case merits. Despite Sidhique's claims of prolonged harassment and false accusations by the complainant, the court underscored the delayed reporting's context and trauma.