On Monday, the Supreme Court granted Malayalam film actor Siddique interim protection from arrest in a rape case 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, seeking their responses within two weeks. Siddique had appealed against a Kerala High Court decision denying him anticipatory bail. The Court directed that Siddique be released on bail if arrested in connection with Crime No.1192 of 2024, on the condition that he complies with trial court requirements, participates in the investigation, and appears before the investigating officer as necessary until the next hearing. During the hearing, the bench questioned the delay in lodging the complaint against Siddique. The victim's lawyer highlighted the Justice Hema Committee report exposing harassment in the Malayalam film industry, while Siddique's representative, Mukul Rohatgi, mentioned the late filing of the complaint. The victim's lawyer detailed interactions between Siddique and the complainant, emphasizing events in 2014 and 2016. Discussing the broader issue of harassment, the lawyer questioned why complaints took years to surface and referenced the #MeToo movement in Hollywood. The Court also inquired about the delay in filing the complaint, spanning eight years, and sought further information.Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Kerala government, objected to the approval of anticipatory bail. Is Sean 'Diddy' Combs facing financial difficulties amidst court proceedings? On September 24, the High Court declined Siddique's request for anticipatory bail in the rape case, stating that given the gravity of the allegations, it is necessary for him to be taken into custody to conduct a thorough investigation. Also, check out the best Malayalam movies of 2024, top-rated Malayalam movies of 2024, and the latest Malayalam movies.