New Delhi: Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan, arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police on his way to Hathras for covering the gangrape and murder of a19-year-old Dalit girl in 2020, was granted bail on Friday. Kappan and three others were taken into custody on October 5, 2020 from Mant area of Mathura.
The Supreme Court which granted the bail said that Kappan shall be produced before the trial within three days and then released on bail.
Kappan was arrested under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
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The court observed that everyone has the Right to Free Expression, so the journalist tried to raise his voice and wanted to know from the UP government if that was a crime in the eyes of law.
The apex court to the senior lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani who appeared for the UP government that there were protests at India Gate in 2011 when the protesters sought justice in the Nirbhaya gangrape case.
The UP government opposed the bail petition filed by Kappan. The government said he had close connections with the extremist organisation with a terrorist organisation Popular Front of India (PFI).
