Siddique Kappan to remain in jail, Police cite another case

Kerala-based journalist Siddique Kappan will remain in jail because another case against him being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate is still pending, said DG Jail PRO Santosh Verma.

The UP Police has also accused Kappan of engaging in money laundering with PTI. The other case is filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Journalist bodies had earlier called that the court grants him bail in this case as well.

The Supreme Court had recently granted him bail in the case he was arrested in October 2020. The top court bench took note of the Uttar Pradesh government's submissions and laid down several conditions for the bail.

Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Anurodh Mishra had directed Kappan to furnish two sureties of Rs 1 lakh each and a personal bond of the same amount. He was also instructed to remain in Delhi for the next six weeks after being released from prison and report to Nizamuddin police station on Monday every week. The judge sought an undertaking from Kappan that he will not breach the conditions imposed on him.

He has been in jail for the past two years. Kappan was booked under various sections of IPC and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Information Technology (IT) Act.

He was on his way to Hathras where a Dalit woman died after allegedly being raped. The journalist, along with his companions - Athikur Rehman, Alam, and Masood - were accused of having close ties with the Popular Front of India. The UP Police alleged that the group was conspiring to instigate violence in the state.

Several journalist bodies claimed that Kappan is a "soft target" for the UP government. They also backed him by saying he is an experienced journalist carrying out his duties. Opposition parties also appreciated the Supreme Court order granting bail to him.