The Supreme Court on Monday sought a response from the Uttar Pradesh government on the bail plea of Muslim journalist Siddique Kappan, arrested under draconian UAPA in October 2020 while on his way to Hathras where a Dalit woman had died after being gang-raped.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Uday Umesh Lalit and S Ravindra Bhat fixed the plea for final disposal on September 9.
Kappan has now spent almost two years behind bars.
“The heart of the allegation is that that PFI put 45,000 for terrorist activities. No evidence, no nothing, just allegations,” Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for Kappan submitted to the top court.
“PFI is not a terrorist organization. PFI is not a banned organization. I am a journalist. I was going to Hathras to cover the case. What has happened is that I was working with a newspaper with PFI. I don’t work there any more.”
The CJI told Additional Advocate General of the State of UP Garima Prashad to file her objections in the matter by placing on record a counter-affidavit.
Meanwhile, On 23 August, Kappan’s co-accused cab driver Mohammad Alam, was enlarged on bail by the High Court. It was observed in the bail order that “incriminating material” was recovered from Kappan’s possession but, no such material was recovered from Alam.
