‘Stockpile of evidence’: Police urge Supreme Court to refuse actor Siddique pre-arrest bail

In its report filed in the top court, the Kerala Police contended that Siddique, booked for allegedly raping an actress, was an “extremely influential person” and could “obstruct the course of justice and scuttle the investigative machinery”. It expressed apprehension that the “witnesses who have boldly come forward after the Justice Hema Commission report will step back” if his interim protection was indefinitely prolonged.

“Even though the investigation (is) at the initial stage, there is a stockpile of evidence against him. Considering the influence and clout of the accused, some of the evidence will be tampered with and witnesses will be threatened,” the police report said.

In the report, filed in SC on October 19, the police said Siddique did not cooperate with them and gave “evasive, contradictory and tutored” answers, “citing forgetfulness, knowing fully well that he is under the interim protection of the Supreme Court”.

Stressing the need for his custodial interrogation, it said the probe so far had revealed his “ill intent” as he had attempted to destroy his mobile phones.

Urging the top court to dismiss his plea “as the brutality of the accused crossed all limits”, the police said: “It is essential to expose his lie of righteousness before he goes down in history as a hero and gets venerated by subsequent generations as worthy of emulation.”