New Delhi: Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan, booked by the Uttar Pradesh government under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), was released from jail on Thursday after he was granted bail by Allahabad High Court in a money laundering case. He was lodged in the Lucknow district jail and has been released after the sureties required for his bail were submitted in court.
"I have come out of jail after 28 months. I want to thank the media for supporting me. False allegations were put against me. I am happy to be out now," Siddique Kappan said, as per news agency ANI.
Kappan and three others were arrested in October 2020 while on their way to Hathras where a Dalit woman died allegedly after being raped. They were accused of trying to instigate violence over the death of the Hathras woman, the case at that time had triggered widespread outrage.
UP Police alleged that Kappan had links with the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI) and charged him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and sections of the Indian Penal Code.
In September last year, the Supreme Court granted him bail in connection with that case. However, he continued to be in jail because of the money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate.
His lawyer Mohamed Dhanish K S on Wednesday told news agency PTI, "Sureties were presented in the court today. Court part is complete now. Release order sent to jail".
The lawyer informed that the judge was present in the court on Wednesday and he approved the sureties.
Two sureties of Rs 1 lakh each could not be submitted on Tuesday in the PMLA court in Lucknow due to the absence of the judge.
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court granted him bail in that second case on December 23.