Malayalam actor Siddique summoned a young female actor to his hotel room in Thiruvananthapuram with an ulterior motive, the Special Investigation Team probing a complaint of rape against him has said in the chargesheet, police sources said.
Siddique allegedly invited the female actor to the Mascot Hotel in Thiruvananthapuram, promising her a role in a Tamil movie starring his son.
The incident happened after the preview of a movie, Sukhamayirikkatte, at the Nila Theatre in Kerala’s capital city on 28 January 2016. The survivor was then aged 21.
The chargesheet mentioned that the survivor had mentioned her trauma before the Hema Committee report was made public. Investigators have reportedly found evidence of Siddique inviting the woman and her family for the preview. It also mentioned that the investigators have digital evidence and witnesses’ statements to establish the presence of both actors at the same time in the hotel.
Siddique resigned as the general secretary of A.M.M.A., a body of Malayalam movie artists, on 25 August last, a day after the female actor had gone public with the accusation.
“He’s a criminal. He subjected me to sexual assault for an hour. He asked me to come to Hotel Mascot to discuss the offer. I was caught unaware when he asked me immediately whether I was ready for adjustments,” she then told the media.
The woman met reporters challenging Siddique’s statement that the so-called casting couch did not exist in the Malayalam film industry.
Responding to the allegation, Siddique complained to the DGP against the woman, saying her accusations were part of a broader agenda.
Related: Malayalam actor Siddique resigns as AMMA general secretary
SIT to file chargesheet soon
The 62-year-old actor has denied the rape charge. He argued that the eight-year delay in complaining revealed that it was fake. He also pointed at the woman’s Facebook posts, which did not mention his name.
However, the Crime Branch team has reportedly recorded the statement of the doctor who treated the survivor soon after the alleged incident. The woman had then sought treatment in Ernakulam.
Siddique, who had been granted anticipatory bail by the Supreme Court, was summoned and interrogated. Investigators said he was non-cooperative.
The SIT will submit the chargesheet to the court after receiving the Crime Branch chief’s approval.
The Museum police in Thiruvananthapuram registered the case against Siddique under sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
Siddique Mamathu, known mononymously as Siddique, debuted in movies with Aa Neram Alppa Dooram in 1985. He has acted in more than 350 movies and produced two films, Bada Dosth and Nandanam.
