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Synopsis

UAPA accused Siddique Kappan on Thursday walked out of Lucknow jail in Uttar Pradesh on bail. The Sessions Judge, Lucknow had yesterday ordered his release after accepting his bail bonds in the cases against him. 

Kappan, who was detained by Uttar Pradesh Police on October 5, 2020, in connection with the Hathras conspiracy case, was initially booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) along with other sedition laws and later under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

He had secured bail in the UAPA case from the Supreme Court on September 9, 2022, and in the PMLA case from the Allahabad High Court on December 24, 2023.

Kappan was arrested while he was en route to meet the family of the victim of Hathras gang rape. Allegedly Kappan intended to disturb harmony in Hathras in collusion with the other co-accused, funded by the Popular Front of India (PFI). 

The state government of Uttar Pradesh has alleged that the investigation into the Hathras conspiracy case has revealed a close nexus and deep connection of Kappan with the top leadership of PFI and its student wing CFI (Campus Front of India) and CFI, in turn, has been found to have connections with Al Qaeda-linked organizations like IHH in Turkey. 

The state government in its one affidavit stated that Kappan was part of the PFI/CFI delegation sent to Hathras on the directions of co-accused Rauf Sharif (National General Secretary, CFI, prime fundraiser and financial transaction handler for PFI/CFI), to meet the family of the Hathras gang rape victim and foment discord and spread terror.

During the investigation, it was also found that allegedly Kappan received Rs. 45,000 in his account in September – October 2020 deposited by PFI members in furtherance of the conspiracy to carry out terrorist acts at Hathras. Over these allegations, the ED had lodged a case against him under PMLA.