UP court rejects Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan's bail plea

The judge said that Kappan was closely associated with PFI

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ITDC NEWSR R A court in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, rejected the bail plea of Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan who has been booked under offences under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

Kappan and his alleged associates, who were suspected to be linked to the radical group Popular Front of India (PFI), were arrested on October 5 when they were on their way to the Hathras village after the gang-rape and murder of a girl. They were arrested on the apprehension of causing a breach of peace but were later slapped with stringent charges of sedition and violation of anti-terror law UAPA and Information Technology Act.

Additional Sessions Judge Anil Kumar Pandey rejected the bail plea moved by Kappan saying there was prima facie case that the journalist and other co-accused were trying to disturb the law and other situation when they were heading to cover the gang-rape incident in Uttar Pradesh.

The judge said that Kappan was closely associated with PFI and that he carried the identity card of a Malayalam publication that closed down in December 2018. The Mathura court also took note of two financial transactions in Kappan’s bank account and said he was provided with the funds to conduct “anti-national” and illegal activities.

Last month, a court in Mathura had dropped proceedings on charges related to apprehension of breach of peace against Kappan and three others as the police failed to complete the inquiry against them within the prescribed period of six months.

Sub Divisional Magistrate, Maant, Ram Datt Ram, had discharged accused Atikurrahman, Aalam, journalist Siddique Kappan and Masood arrested under sections 151, 107, 116 CrPC on October 5, 2020 by Maan police.

The accused have been in jail since October 7 last year in another case under sections 153A (promoting enmity between groups...), 295A (outraging religious feelings), 124A (sedition), 120B (conspiracy) of IPC, 17/18 of UAPA (raising funds for terrorist act) and under the IT Act.