Sidheeq Kappan Explained

Sidheeq Kappan
Birth Date:[1]
Birth Place:Kerala, India
Nationality:Indian
Other Names:Siddique Kappan
Occupation:Journalist
Known For:Reporting on caste violence; government persecution of journalists
Spouse(S):Raihanath Kappan[2]
Children:3[3]

Sidheeq Kappan is an Indian journalist from Kerala who had been imprisoned in October 2020 after being charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.[4] He was arrested while on his way to Hathras to report on the story of the 19-year-old Dalit woman who died after being allegedly gang-raped by four men.[5]

Before his imprisonment, Kappan was a regular contributor to the news portal Azhimukham.

Arrest and detention

On 5 October 2020, Kappan, along with three others, were traveling to Hathras to report on the 2020 Hathras gang rape and murder. His car was stopped at a toll plaza in Mathura and all four were arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police.[6] The First Information Report submitted against him in Mathura court charged him with Section 124A (sedition), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, etc.) and 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Information Technology Act.[7] [8]

In February 2021, Kappan received five days' interim bail to visit his ailing mother, Khadeeja Kutty.[9] The bail allowed only his close family to meet him.[10] His mother later passed away in June 2021, after succumbing to illnesses.[11]

In April 2021, Kappan tested positive for COVID-19. He was shifted to a hospital within the prison premises in Mathura.[12] When his health worsened, he was moved to K.M Medical College in Mathura, where the attending doctors declared him "COVID negative".[13] [14] He was then returned to Mathura jail. After the intervention of the Supreme Court, he was relocated to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences for further treatment.[15] In May 2021, he tested positive for COVID-19 again.[16]

Kappan was granted bail on 9 September 2022,[17] but would remain in jail due to a Enforcement Directorate case.[18]

On 23 December 2022, Kappan got bail from the Allahabad High Court in the case filed by ED under PMLA. [19] [20] [21]

After getting out of jail, he said that the police tortured him during the detention to get forced confessions out of him.[22]

Protests

Several protests were conducted in India, demanding the release of Kappan from prison.[23] [24] International press organizations have also expressed concern over the jailing of Kappan.[25] [26]

Release

In February 2023, Kappan was released from prison after more than two years following his arrest. In December 2022, the Allahabad High Court granted him bail. However, it took over a month to secure his release due to procedural delays. After walking out of the prison, Kappan stated that he would continue to fight the charges against him.[27]

Notes and References

  1. News: Mandhani . Apoorva . After 43 days in UP jail, Kerala journalist finally gets to talk to lawyer for 5 mins on phone . 24 July 2022 . ThePrint . 18 November 2020.
  2. News: Siddique Kappan's incarceration: His wife and children feel helpless, yet keep their hopes alive . 24 July 2022 . The New Indian Express.
  3. News: Preview: India's Shackled Press . 24 July 2022 . en.
  4. News: Kerala journo Siddique Kappan charged under UAPA, IT Act by UP special task force . 24 July 2022 . The News Minute . 3 April 2021 . en.
  5. News: Sadhu . Anuran . Journalist Siddique Kappan, Three Others Discharged Of Breach Of Peace Case By UP Court . 24 July 2022 . thelogicalindian.com . 16 June 2021 . en.
  6. News: Mandhani . Apoorva . Journalist Siddique Kappan meets lawyer 46 days after arrest while en route to Hathras . 24 July 2022 . ThePrint . 21 November 2020.
  7. News: Kerala journo Siddique Kappan charged under UAPA, IT Act by UP special task force . 24 July 2022 . The News Minute . 3 April 2021 . en.
  8. News: Hazari . Usama . Siddique Kappan completes one year in jail, but for what? . 24 July 2022 . The Siasat Daily . 5 October 2021.
  9. News: Journalist Siddique Kappan gets 5 days bail to Visit his ailing mother in Kerala . 24 July 2022 . Gauri Lankesh News . 15 February 2021 . en.
  10. News: Kerala journo Siddique Kappan charged under UAPA, IT Act by UP special task force . 24 July 2022 . The News Minute . 3 April 2021 . en.
  11. News: 18 June 2021 . P. S. . Gopikrishnan Unnithan . Jailed Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan's mother passes away at 90 . 24 July 2022 . India Today . en.
  12. News: By Hastily Shifting Siddique Kappan From AIIMS to Mathura Jail, UP Defies Supreme Court . 24 July 2022 . The Wire.
  13. News: Anuja . Jaiswal . Siddique Kappan moved back to UP jail despite Covid positive report Agra News - Times of India . 24 July 2022 . The Times of India . en.
  14. News: Mandhani . Apoorva . Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan tests positive for Covid, admitted to hospital . 24 July 2022 . ThePrint . 21 April 2021.
  15. News: Aneesha . Mathur . SC orders Covid positive journalist Siddique Kappan be shifted to Delhi for treatment . 24 July 2022 . India Today . en.
  16. News: Jaiswal . Anuja . Journo Siddique Kappan tests Covid-19 positive for 2nd time, discharged from AIIMS & brought back to Mathura jail . 24 July 2022 . The Times of India . en.
  17. Web site: Journalist S Kappan, In UP Jail Since 2020, Granted Bail By Supreme Court . 2022-09-09 . NDTV.com.
  18. Web site: Despite SC bail, Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan to remain in jail as ED case pending . 2022-09-13 . TimesNow . en.
  19. Web site: BREAKING: Allahabad High Court grants bail to Siddique Kappan in PMLA case. Ratna. Singh. December 23, 2022. 23 December 2022. barandbench.com.
  20. Web site: Allahabad High Court grants bail to journalist Siddique Kappan in PMLA case. thehindu.com. The Hindu. December 23, 2022. 23 December 2022.
  21. Web site: Kerala Journalist Siddique Kappan Gets Bail After 2 Years In UP Jail. ndtv.com. December 23, 2022. 23 December 2022.
  22. News: Rizvi . Asad . Siddique Kappan Says Police 'Tortured' Him to Admit Links to Terrorist Groups . 2023-02-04 . . 2023-02-04.
  23. News: One year of Siddique Kappan's arrest: Journalists protest in Delhi . 24 July 2022 . English.Mathrubhumi . en.
  24. News: The terrible case of Siddiqui Kappan illustrated the targeting of journalists . 24 July 2022 . eNewsroom India . 6 October 2021.
  25. News: International press org seeks immediate release of journalist Siddique Kappan . 24 July 2022 . The News Minute . 15 July 2021 . en.
  26. News: Siddique Kappan . 24 July 2022 . Committee to Protect Journalists.
  27. News: 2023-02-02 . Siddique Kappan: Indian journalist released from jail after two years . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-02-02.

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