The Museum police in Thiruvananthapuram have filed an FIR against veteran Malayalam actor Siddique following rape allegations made by a young actress. This development comes in the wake of Siddique’s resignation as the general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), a position he stepped down from after the allegations surfaced.
In response to the accusations, Siddique has lodged a complaint with the police, alleging that the claims made by the actress are part of a conspiracy against him. This controversy is further compounded by the recent resignation of actor Mohanlal as the president of AMMA, along with the resignations of all executive committee members. Mohanlal’s departure and the broader resignation of the AMMA leadership are linked to the fallout from the Justice Hema Committee report, which highlighted serious issues of sexual harassment and discrimination within the Malayalam film industry.
The Hema Committee report has intensified scrutiny of the industry, leading to calls from AMMA members for those facing allegations to resign from their positions without delay. The report's revelations about the mistreatment of women in the industry have prompted several female actors to come forward with their own complaints.
In response to these developments, the Kerala government has established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to address the concerns raised by the Hema Committee report and other related cases.
The SIT, now reinforced with additional female officers, has been tasked with investigating all relevant cases and allegations. A recent Kerala Police statement confirmed that the SIT is coordinating with local police stations to ensure a thorough examination of the complaints.