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Synopsis

Siddique Kappan whose bail application in the Hathras Conspiracy case was rejected by the Allahabad High Court earlier this month, has moved the Supreme Court challenging the order. He was booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). 

Kappan was arrested in October 2020 in the alleged 'Hathras conspiracy' case. Allegedly Kappan intended to disturb harmony in Hathras in collusion with the other co-accused, funded by the Popular Front of India (PFI). 

The high court single judge bench comprising Justice Krishan Pahal had observed, "A perusal of the charge-sheet and documents adduced, prima facie reveal that the applicant has committed the offence".

In the conclusion part of the order, the court had noted, 

"It has come up in the investigation that the applicant had no work at Hathras. The State machinery was at tenterhooks owing to the tension prevailing due to various types of information being viral across all forums of media including the internet. The said sojourn of the applicant with co-accused persons who do not belong to media fraternity is a crucial circumstance going against him."

The High Court had also held that the defence taken by Kappan that he was a journalist and only owing to his professional duty, he wanted to visit the place of Hathras incident, stood nullified by the averments in the charge-sheet and the persons, he was arrested with.

A local court in Mathura District rejected Kappan's bail plea on July 6, 2021 and on December 13, 2021, it transferred the case against Kappan and seven others to the NIA, Special Court, Lucknow.

In Supreme Court today, advocate Haris Beeran mentioned the matter and sought its urgent listing. 

He submitted that Kappan has been in jail for two years and was arrested by the Police when he had gone to Hathras in Uttar Pradesh to cover the incidents. The CJI informed Beeran that he will consider listing it. 

Case Title: Sidhique Kappan v. State Of U.P.Thru.Prin.Secy.Home Lko