New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh government has not granted bail to media worker Siddique Kappan, who has been in jail for the past two years in the UAPA case. The Uttar Pradesh government has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that the Malayali journalist who is a witness in the case will be threatened if he is released on bail.
In the affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, the Uttar Pradesh government has pointed out that Siddique Kappan was part of a conspiracy to promote communal tensions and terrorism across the country.
In the affidavit filed by the Uttar Pradesh government in the Supreme Court, it is said that there is a threat to the lives of those who gave evidence against Siddique Kappan. One of the witnesses is a journalist based in Bihar.
Due to the threat to his life, this journalist gave the statement by e-mail instead of giving it in person. A copy of this statement was given to the captain under section 207 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. In the affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, it is alleged that this statement was made public including Siddique Kappan’s wife. It has been explained in the affidavit that there was a severe cyber attack against the journalist and Bihar Police is currently providing round-the-clock security to the journalist as requested by the Uttar Pradesh Police.
The state government handed over the copy of the e-mail message sent by the mediaperson to the Uttar Pradesh DGP stating that he was threatened and pressured to withdraw his statement against Siddique Kappan along with the affidavit to the Supreme Court.
The UP government has also alleged that Siddique Kappan has close ties with the top leaders of the Popular Front. It has also been stated in the affidavit that Siddique Kappan has not been able to clarify the source of the Rs 45,000 that came into his account during the months of September and October. But the Uttar Pradesh Police also claims that the other accused in the case have testified that this was money given by the Popular Front activists to carry out terrorist activities.
The Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice U.U. Lalit will consider the bail plea of Siddique Kappan on Friday.