Siddique Kappan, a reporter for the Malayalam news site Azhimukham, was detained by the UP police on suspicion of attempting to disrupt Hathras' law and order.
Digital Desk: Kerala Journalist, The Supreme Court recently
granted release to Siddique Kappan, who had been imprisoned in Uttar Pradesh
for over two years, stating that "Every person has the right to free
expression."
Siddique Kappan was detained on his way to Hathras in Uttar
Pradesh, where he claimed he was going to report on the gang rape and murder of
a 19-year-old. He was accused of supporting terrorism and charged under the
strict Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
The Chief Justice of India, UU Lalit, stated, "The guy
(Kappan) has been in custody for two years."
The journalist must report to the police in Delhi for the next
six weeks and then in Kerala, according to the court. In three days, he will be
brought to a trial court, where he must present his passport.
Siddique Kappan, a reporter for the Malayalam news site Azhimukham,
was detained by the UP police on suspicion of attempting to disrupt Hathras'
law and order. The police said that he had connections to the Popular Front of
India (PFI). The journalist has maintained this position his entire career.
The Uttar Pradesh government contended in court today that Mr.
Kappan is not even a certified journalist and was paid to provoke rioting.
"He was attempting to incite a disturbance by using explosives. He is a
member of the PFI, which is a terrorist group. Mahesh Jethmalani, an attorney
for UP, stated that he had written evidence against him.
The evidence against Mr. Kappan was contested by the Supreme
Court. No explosives were discovered with Kappan, and no materials were
discovered with him; they were discovered in the automobile, and they were not
used for propagation, according to Chief Justice Lalit.
The prosecution urged Mr. Sibal, the attorney for Mr. Kappan, to
peruse the materials.
The Chief Justice questioned, "What material was unsafe? Is
there literature which indicates anything damaging?"
According to UP, it was a "toolkit," a term used by
many to refer to a manual for inciting discontent or terror.
What you have presented in terms of literature, according to the
judges, "doesn't show anything."
The UP government's arguments in the Supreme Court mirror those
in its 5,000-page charge sheet filed in 2021.
At the prior hearing, UP had informed the court that Mr. Kappan
was a part of a bigger plot to "spread fear" and "incite
religious strife."
Due to claims that the state government and the police engaged
in a cover-up, the Hathras case sparked widespread indignation and protests.
A few days after being gang-raped, the young woman passed away.
Later, without her family present, she was burned by the UP police in the middle
of the night.
A video of Mr. Kappan's nine-year-old daughter speaking at a
school event on the "freedom and rights of regular folks" recently
went viral on social media.
Mr. Kappan's wife stated, "I have the unshakable feeling
that my husband is innocent, and the last 705 days have been tremendously
traumatic for the family." Kappan is also facing a money-laundering case
filed by the Enforcement Directorate. The Supreme Court said he could apply for
bail in that case too.
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