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This is an archive article published on August 24, 2022

Hathras ‘conspiracy’ case: Journalist Siddique Kappan files bail plea in apex court

Kappan’s plea, filed through his counsel Advocate Harris Beeran, was mentioned before a bench presided by Chief Justice of India N V Ramana, who directed that it be listed before an appropriate bench on August 26.

Delhi-based journalist Siddique KappanDelhi-based journalist Siddique Kappan

WITH THE Allahabad High Court rejecting his bail application earlier this month, journalist Siddique Kappan, arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police and charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, has approached the Supreme Court seeking bail in the case.

Kappan’s plea, filed through his counsel Advocate Harris Beeran, was mentioned before a bench presided by Chief Justice of India N V Ramana, who directed that it be listed before an appropriate bench on August 26.

In his petition, Kappan has challenged the Allahabad High Court’s order, on August 2, dismissing his bail application. “As a result of the rejection of the application, the petitioner, a journalist of 12 years experience, who has also served as the secretary of the Delhi chapter of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists, continues to be incarcerated. Presently, the petitioner has spent almost two years behind bars, on the basis of trumped up charges, only because he sought to discharge his professional duty of reporting on the infamous case of the Hathras rape/ murder,” said the plea.

The HC decision “grossly overlooks the well-established principles regarding the grant of bail, and, without affording any cogent reasons, has mechanically dismissed” the bail plea, it said.

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Kappan and three others, including the driver of the vehicle in which they were travelling, were arrested in Mathura on October 5, 2020, when they were on their way to Hathras, where a Dalit woman had died after she was allegedly gangraped. They were booked under UAPA and on charges of sedition.

While Kappan said he was going to Hathras to report on the incident, the UP Police had alleged links with the Popular Front of India (PFI) and claimed the group wanted to create unrest in the area.

On Tuesday, the Allahabad High Court granted bail to Mohammad Alam, the driver of the vehicle who was arrested with Kappan. “The case of this accused appellant (Alam) is distinguished to the case of co-accused Siddique Kappan as incriminating material was allegedly recovered from his (Kappan’s) possession. He is a press reporter and a laptop and a mobile phone recovered from his possession, incriminating articles and video clips etc. were found inter-alia. Admittedly, no such incriminating material was recovered from the possession of the present accused appellant (Alam),” the court said.

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