SC grants bail to Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan arrested on way to Hathras

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan who was arrested in October 2020 on his way to Hathras where a Dalit woman had died.
The court directed Kappan to remain in Delhi for six weeks, after which he can shift to Kerala. The Supreme Court also directed the police to produce Kappan before the trial court within three days.
Kappan and three others were arrested by Uttar Pradesh Police on October 5, 2020, while they were going to report the alleged gang rape and murder of a Dalit woman in Hathras. Initially, they were arrested for alleged breach of peace. Subsequently, they were booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) on allegations that the four, including Kappan's driver, were trying to incite communal riots and disrupt social harmony in the wake of the Hathras case.
Opposing the bail plea moved by Kappan, the Uttar Pradesh government had told the SC that investigation has revealed clear links between the accused and PFI/CFI (Popular Front of India/Campus Front of India) top leadership, namely Kamal KP and Oma Salaam.

"Kerala-based journalist Kappan has deep links with the PFI and is part of a larger conspiracy to incite religious discord and spread terror," Uttar Pradesh government has told the Supreme Court.
Earlier last month, cab driver Mohammad Alam, who was taking Kerala journalist Kappan and two others to Hathras for reporting the alleged gang rape and murder of the 19-year-old, was granted bail by the Lucknow bench of Allahabad high court.

Following the alleged gang rape and murder of the Dalit girl in September 2020, Hathras was witnessing frayed tempers.