2020 Hathras 'Conspiracy' Case: Allahabad HC Grants Bail To Masood Booked Under UAPA

While passing the order granting bail to Masood on March 12, the HC bench took into account the fact that the Supreme Court had already granted bail to co-accused Kappan and other co-accused.

New Delhi: The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court granted bail to Masood, an accused in the 2020 Hathras 'conspiracy' case. This decision follows the grant of bail to journalist Siddique Kappan and four others who were also booked in connection with the same case. Masood, like Kappan and others, was charged by the Uttar Pradesh Police under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The bench, comprising justices A R Masoodi and A K Srivastava, issued the order allowing an appeal filed by Masood, reported news agency PTI.

While passing the order granting bail to Masood on March 12, the bench took into account the fact that the Supreme Court had already granted bail to co-accused Kappan and other co-accused persons had been enlarged on bail by the high court itself. Masood and Kappan along with others have been charge-sheeted by UP police's Special Task Force for sedition, criminal conspiracy, funding of terror activities, and other offences, PTI reported.

It has been alleged that they were involved in money laundering offences, claiming that they wanted to incite communal riots and spread terror in the aftermath of the Hathras gangrape case. 

Hathras Case: SC Bail To Journalist Siddique Kappan

Siddique Kappan, a journalist hailing from Kerala, who was detained in October 2020 in connection with the Hathras 'conspiracy' case, was granted bail by the Supreme Court in September 2022. Following his appearance in front of the trial court within three days, Kappan was slated for discharge. However, the Supreme Court imposed certain conditions on him. He was required to remain in Delhi for the next six weeks and report to the local police station in Nizamuddin weekly, as per PTI. Additionally, other restrictions were enforced.

After the stipulated six weeks, Kappan was to be allowed to travel to Mallapuram in Kerala, where he was required to report to the local police station once a week. Before his release, he was asked to surrender his passport as per the court's orders. Moreover, he was explicitly instructed not to misuse his freedom by contacting any witnesses involved in the case.