On Monday, the court of additional district and sessions judge Anurodh Mishra released Kappan following orders of the Supreme Court that had granted him bail on September 9.
Kappan was lodged in jail after his arrest in October 2020 while he was on his way to Hathras in Uttar Pradesh where a Dalit woman had died after allegedly being raped. “Kappan will continue to remain in jail as a case being probed by the Enforcement Directorate is still pending,” PTI quoted DG jail PRO Santosh Verma as saying.
While ordering his release, Mishra had directed Kappan to furnish two sureties of Rs 1 lakh each and a personal bond of the same amount. The judge also sought an undertaking from the journalist that he would not breach the conditions imposed on him by the apex court.
On September 9, a division bench of the Chief Justice of India, UU Lalit and Justice S Ravindra Bhat directed the Uttar Pradesh government to produce Kappan before the trial court within three days for release on bail, subject to conditions that would ensure his presence in the trial in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The court also pointed out that observations made in this order (bail order) will have no effect on the trial court’s proceedings in this case.
On October 5, 2020, the UP Police arrested Kappan and three others accompanying him – Athikur Rehman, Alam and Masood – under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Information Technology Act while they were on way to Hathras to report on a Dalit woman who was allegedly gang-raped on September 14, 2020.
Also read: Hathras Gang Rape: Journalist S Kappan Granted Bail By Supreme Court
Also read: Anti-Terror Chargesheet Filed Against Kerala Scribe Covering Hathras Rape Case
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