Lucknow: Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan walked out of jail on Thursday morning after being behind the bars for more than two years.
“I will continue my fight against draconian laws. They kept me in jail even after I got bail. I don’t know who’s benefiting from me being in jail. These two years were very tough, but I was never afraid,” Kappan told NDTV after his release.
Watch the video clip shared on Twitter:
Visuals of Kerala based journalist Siddique Kappan coming out of Lucknow jail earlier in the morning today. He was behind bars for more than two years. pic.twitter.com/23WCkue6bm
— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) February 2, 2023
Kappan was arrested in Mathura by Uttar Pradesh police in October 2020 when he was on way to Hathras district where a Dalit woman had died after being allegedly gangraped. A case was lodged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
He was accused of having links with Popular Front of India (PFI) and being a part of a ‘conspiracy’ to instigate violence.
A Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case was also filed against him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
However, despite Supreme Court granting him bail in the UAPA case last September and Allahabad High Court granted bail in the PMLA case, Kappan could not be released due to difficulty in finding two local sureties — persons who assure the defendant will attend his or her court hearing after being granted bail.
Finally, a Special court in Lucknow signed his release order on Thursday.
Kappan was expected to walk out last evening itself, but the judge was busy with a bar council election.
