The Supreme Court of India has revised a significant bail condition for Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan, easing his reporting obligations as he continues to face legal scrutiny. Previously, Kappan was required to report to a police station in Uttar Pradesh on a weekly basis due to charges connected to the 2020 Hathras conspiracy case. This condition has now been lifted by the court, granting him more leniency without altering other bail terms that remain intact from September 2022. These include restrictions on his travel outside Delhi and the surrender of his passport, as outlined by Live Law.
Kappan, along with three others, was apprehended in October 2020 while on his way to report on the contentious Hathras case, where the alleged assault and death of a young woman had captured extensive public attention. Initially accused of breaching public peace, Kappan was later charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Authorities claim he, along with others, had ties to the Popular Front of India (PFI), an organization under scrutiny for its alleged role in fueling protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
The decision to amend the bail condition was made by a bench comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and Sandeep Mehta, who responded to an application from Kappan. This adjustment relieves him from the burdensome weekly obligation while ensuring that oversight continues as the full legal process plays out. The revised order signifies the court’s attempt to balance individual rights with judicial supervision during investigatory and trial phases. For more comprehensive coverage of the legal developments, see the original article on JURIST.