The Supreme Court granted preliminary protection from arrest to Malayalam film actor Siddique in a rape case on Monday and instructed him to cooperate with the investigation. Justices Bela M Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma issued notices to the Kerala government and the victim, requesting their responses within two weeks. Siddique had filed a plea challenging a Kerala High Court decision denying him pre-arrest bail. The court directed that he should be released on bail if arrested, provided he adheres to court-appointed conditions and cooperates with the investigation until the next hearing. During the proceedings, the victim's lawyer, Vrinda Grover, highlighted the delayed complaint registration against Siddique, linking it to the broader issues revealed in the Justice Hema Committee report on harassment and exploitation in the Malayalam film industry. Siddique's representative, Mukul Rohatgi, mentioned that a complaint was only filed in 2024, eight years after the incident. Grover questioned Siddique's behavior by detailing the interactions between Siddique and the complainant, who was 19 years old in 2014, including social media contact and an invitation to a preview event in 2016. She emphasized the importance of speaking out against such misconduct beyond Kerala, using the example of the Harvey Weinstein case in Hollywood. The court echoed Grover's query, asking why the complaint was filed so late after eight years.Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Kerala government, opposed the request for anticipatory bail. The High Court denied Siddique's application for anticipatory bail in a rape case on September 24, stating that given the gravity of the allegations, it is necessary to interrogate him in custody for a thorough investigation. It appears that Sean 'Diddy' Combs is facing financial difficulties amidst ongoing court proceedings. Discover the top Malayalam movies of 2024 in this list.