After over 700 days in jail, Siddique Kappan granted bail by the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court today granted bail to journalist Siddique Kappan, who has been in jail since October 2020.

His bail application was heard by a bench led by Chief Justice of India UU Lalit. The chief justice said “every person has the right to free expression” and Kappan had been trying to spotlight a “victim who requires justice and raise a common voice”.

His wife Raihanath told Newslaundry, “I was at court. I couldn't believe what I heard and couldn't hold back my tears.”

Kappan had approached the apex court after a sessions court and the Allahabad High Court rejected his petitions for bail. The Uttar Pradesh government opposed his bail plea in the Supreme Court, submitting a 332-page statement of objection.

He was arrested in October 2020 with three others while on their way to Hathras to report on the gangrape and death of a Dalit woman. Kappan was charged under the UAPA and with sedition, and has been in jail ever since.

The UP government believes he is part of a larger conspiracy to “foment religious discord and spread terror in the country”. Read our in-depth series on what the chargesheet against Kappan says.