New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday relaxed the bail conditions for Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan, lifting the requirement for him to report weekly to a police station in Uttar Pradesh. This adjustment, made by a bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Sandeep Mehta, modifies a stipulation from the Court’s September 2022 bail order.
Kappan, who was granted bail after spending two years in detention related to the Hathras case, petitioned the Supreme Court for a relaxation of his bail terms. Reacting to the decision, he told Radiance, “The Supreme Court has waived the weekly reporting requirement, modifying the previous order from September 9, 2022.”
However, Kappan’s other requests – such as the release of his passport, unfreezing of his Provident Fund, and return of his ID cards and laptop – are still pending independent review.
In its September 2022 ruling, the Supreme Court granted Kappan bail after he was charged under the UAPA by Uttar Pradesh police over an alleged conspiracy tied to the Hathras incident. The Court emphasised the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression as it granted him bail. Kappan was arrested in October 2020 while travelling to Hathras, following the death of a Dalit woman who had been gang-raped.
