Kappan was arrested in October 2020 on his strategy to Hathras in Uttar Pradesh, the place a younger Dalit girl was allegedly gang-raped after he died, and charged underneath the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. His dismissal was overruled by the Allahabad High Court. Bail plea earlier this month
A bench of Chief Justice UU Lalit and Justice S Ravindra Bhat mounted September 9 for closing disposal of the matter and requested the state to file its reply by September 5.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, showing for Kappan, submitted that he has been contained in the jail since October 6, 2000. “It is alleged that Popular Front of India (PFI) deposited Rs 45,000 in my account for terrorist actions. This is the center of the cost. There is not any proof, solely allegation.”
Senior counsel submitted that Kappan had nothing to do with the group and had gone to Hathras to meet his skilled obligations. “I have nothing to do with it. I went to Hathras for reporting,” Sibal mentioned on behalf of Kappan, “he was once working with a paper – Theseus Daily – which had links with the PFI” But it was not there.
The bench requested Sibal in regards to the different passengers within the automobile together with Kappan. Sibal mentioned one in all them has already bought bail. He added: “..and PFI is not a terrorist organisation. It is not a banned organization either.” He mentioned that many different journalists had been going to Hathras and so did he.
Appearing for the state, UP Additional Solicitor General Garima Prasad mentioned that there are eight accused within the case and one in all them was an accused within the Delhi riots and the opposite within the Bulandshahr riots. She mentioned two witnesses had been additionally threatened and she or he would file an affidavit.
“Consequent to the rejection of the appliance, the petitioner, a journalist with 12 years of expertise, who has additionally served because the secretary of the Delhi Chapter of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists, continues to be imprisoned. Presently, the petitioner has alleged He has spent nearly two years behind bars on the idea of allegations, solely as a result of he sought to discharge his skilled responsibility of reporting on the notorious Hathras rape/homicide case,” Kappan’s petition challenges the High Court. depend.
Kappan argued that the High Court’s choice “completely ignored the well-established principles with respect to grant of bail, and without any cogent reason, mechanically rejected his bail plea”.
While Kappan claimed that he was going to Hathras to report on the rape-murder incident, the UP police argued that he was financed by a terrorist gang to go there to create unrest within the society.
Kappan mentioned the prosecution has not offered any proof that the cash was allegedly obtained from any terrorist gang. Kappan mentioned he was accused of false and communal reporting through the Northeast Delhi riots, and that he was in contact with individuals who unfold riots within the nationwide capital and mentioned it was baseless.
The police accused him of performing on the PFI’s directions and agenda, however Kappan mentioned he was a clear particular person and by no means violated the legislation.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
