LUCKNOW: Kerala-based journalist Siddique Kappan, arrested two years ago while going to Hathras in Uttar Pradesh to cover the gangrape and murder of a Dalit girl, will be released only after he gets bail in a PMLA case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Lucknow jail authorities said on Monday.
Kappan was booked by UP Police along with three others — Athikurrehman, Alam and Masood — on October 5, 2020 under various sections of the IPC, UAPA and IT Act.
Additional sessions judge (ASJ) Anurodh Mishra directed Kappan to furnish two sureties of Rs 1 lakh each and a personal bond of the same amount. The ASJ also sought an undertaking from Kappan that he would not breach the conditions set by the SC.
Lucknow Jail senior superintendent Ashish Tiwari said, “Siddique is yet to obtain bail in the PMLA case pending against him. So far, he has got bail in other cases. Once he obtains bail in the ED case, he will be released,” Tiwari said.
The ED had filed a prosecution complaint on February 6, 2021 against Atikurrehman, Masood Ahmed, Siddiqui Kappan. Siddiqui Kappan had allegedly transferred funds to the bank account of Atikurrehman; Mohammed Alam was travelling to Hathras in a car bought in the name of Masood. Fifteen days before the Hathras visit, the car was purchased for Rs 2. 25 lakh, the ED had said.
Kappan was booked by UP Police along with three others — Athikurrehman, Alam and Masood — on October 5, 2020 under various sections of the IPC, UAPA and IT Act.
Additional sessions judge (ASJ) Anurodh Mishra directed Kappan to furnish two sureties of Rs 1 lakh each and a personal bond of the same amount. The ASJ also sought an undertaking from Kappan that he would not breach the conditions set by the SC.
Lucknow Jail senior superintendent Ashish Tiwari said, “Siddique is yet to obtain bail in the PMLA case pending against him. So far, he has got bail in other cases. Once he obtains bail in the ED case, he will be released,” Tiwari said.
The ED had filed a prosecution complaint on February 6, 2021 against Atikurrehman, Masood Ahmed, Siddiqui Kappan. Siddiqui Kappan had allegedly transferred funds to the bank account of Atikurrehman; Mohammed Alam was travelling to Hathras in a car bought in the name of Masood. Fifteen days before the Hathras visit, the car was purchased for Rs 2. 25 lakh, the ED had said.
