Sidheeq Kappan

Sidheeq Kappan is an Indian journalist from Kerala who had been imprisoned on 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]

Sidheeq Kappan
Kappan in 2018
Bornc. 1980[1]
Kerala, India
NationalityIndian
Other namesSiddique Kappan
OccupationJournalist
Known forReporting on caste violence; government persecution of journalists
SpouseRaihanath Kappan[2]
Children3[3]

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 Allahbad 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]

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