The Supreme Court today granted bail to journalist Siddique Kappan, who has been in jail since October 2020.
His bail application was heard by a bench led by Chief Justice of India UU Lalit. The chief justice said “every person has the right to free expression” and Kappan had been trying to spotlight a “victim who requires justice and raise a common voice”.
#BREAKING CJI Lalit says Supreme Court will grant bail to Siddique Kappan.
— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) September 9, 2022
His wife Raihanath told Newslaundry, “I was at court. I couldn't believe what I heard and couldn't hold back my tears.”
Kappan had approached the apex court after a sessions court and the Allahabad High Court rejected his petitions for bail. The Uttar Pradesh government opposed his bail plea in the Supreme Court, submitting a 332-page statement of objection.
He was arrested in October 2020 with three others while on their way to Hathras to report on the gangrape and death of a Dalit woman. Kappan was charged under the UAPA and with sedition, and has been in jail ever since.
The UP government believes he is part of a larger conspiracy to “foment religious discord and spread terror in the country”. Read our in-depth series on what the chargesheet against Kappan says.
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