Siddique Kappan’s case transferred to Lucknow

The sedition and UAPA case against journalist Siddique Kappan and seven others has been transferred by a Mathura court to a special NIA court in Lucknow, Times of India reported. Kappan was arrested when he was on his way to Hathras in Uttar Pradesh with PFI workers to cover the alleged rape and murder of a Dalit girl last year.

Sessions Judge Anil Kumar ordered the transfer after the Special Task Force filed an application saying the government has constituted a special court in the state headquarters under Section 22 of the NIA Act, according to the report.

Opposing the transfer plea, defense lawyer Madhuvan Dutt Chaturvedi argued that the special NIA court can only hear cases investigated in compliance with section 6 of the NIA Act. He further said that UAPA offences are listed under the NIA Act.

Section 6 of the Act states that after an offense has been registered, the station in charge is supposed to file a report to the state government which informs the centre. The lawyer said that no such procedure was followed by the state police.

Chaturvedi also said that he will challenge the order in the High Court. The matter will next be heard in Lucknow on January 7.