The Supreme Court granted interim protection 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 responses within two weeks. Siddique had challenged a Kerala High Court decision denying him anticipatory bail. The court directed that if Siddique is arrested in connection with Crime No.1192 of 2024, he should be granted bail, subject to conditions set by the trial court and his participation in the investigation until the next hearing. Advocate Vrinda Grover, representing the victim, cited the delay in registering the complaint against Siddique, referring to the Justice Hema Committee report that highlighted exploitation in the Malayalam film industry. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Siddique, noted that the complaint was filed in 2024, eight years after the incident. The court questioned the delay in filing the complaint and the victim's actions during those eight years.Appearing on behalf of the Kerala government, Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati opposed the request for anticipatory bail. The High Court, on September 24, denied Siddique's application for anticipatory bail in a rape case, citing the gravity of the charges as necessitating his custodial interrogation for a thorough investigation. Additionally, there are reports about Sean 'Diddy' Combs facing financial difficulties amidst ongoing court proceedings. Check out the best Malayalam movies of 2024, top-rated Malayalam movies of 2024, and the latest releases.