Govt Maintained Silence On Hema Committee Report For 5 Yrs, Allegations Came To Light Only After Court's Intervention: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court denied anticipatory bail to actor Siddique, accused of rape, highlighting the government’s prolonged silence on the Hema Committee Report, which exposed widespread sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry. The court criticized the government for not acting on the report for five years, which only came to light through judicial intervention. The complainant alleged that Siddique raped her in a hotel room under the pretext of discussing a film. The court dismissed arguments questioning the complainant’s credibility and emphasized the need for Siddique’s custodial interrogation, considering the seriousness of the allegations and the potential for witness intimidation.