Actor-MLA Mukesh arrested, HC denies anticipatory bail to Siddique

Actor and CPI(M) MLA Mukesh was on Tuesday arrested in an alleged rape case while another actor Siddique who faced similar accusations was denied anticipatory bail by the Kerala High Court, as the police probe into complaints against Malayalam film industry personalities following revelations in the Hema Committee report moved forward.

Mukesh, a ruling party legislator, was released on bail after his formal arrest by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) was recorded since he has already secured anticipatory bail from a sessions court in Kochi earlier this month.

Before his arrest on a complaint by a female actor that she was allegedly raped a decade ago in Kochi, Mukesh, who appeared before the SIT at the Coastal Police Headquarters here at 9.45 am, was interrogated for three-and-a-half hours. Mukesh's lawyer said that the actor was arrested, his medical examination and potency test carried out and later released.

The police, meanwhile, has launched a manhunt for Siddique after his bail plea in a 2016 rape case involving a young actress was rejected by the high court.