Friends under pressure to provide info on my father or face arrest: Shaheen Siddique

Thiruvananthapuram: Shaheen Siddique, son of actor Siddique, has alleged that his friends were taken into police custody in connection with his father's disappearance.

The development comes just days after a court dismissed actor Siddique's anticipatory bail plea in a sexual assault case. Since then, the actor has been absconding and has filed a plea in the Supreme Court challenging the dismissal of his anticipatory bail request.

Shaheen claimed that the special investigation team of Kerala Police visited his house twice and collected statements. 

"Their (his friends) whereabouts are still unknown. The police disagree with this. There is uncertainty about whether there will be a decision from the Supreme Court tomorrow," he stated.

"My friends Paul and Libin were taken away by the special investigation team around 5.30 a.m. on Sunday. I am presently in New Delhi in connection with the case. I came to know about their plight around 11.30 a.m. At 2.03 p.m., another friend called asking for information about my father. My friends are threatened with arrest if they don't give information about my father," claimed Shaheen. 

Earlier today, relatives of Shaheen's friends filed a complaint alleging that the police detained them. However, the Kochi City Police reportedly dismissed the complaint. Relatives alleged that the youths were taken into custody in Kochi in connection with the vehicle used by actor Siddique to flee. According to the complaint, the SIT detained them from flats in Kadavanthra and Menaka. The families have formally lodged their complaint with the Kochi City Police Commissioner.