The Uttar Pradesh government has opposed the bail plea filed by Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan in the Supreme Court.
Kappan was booked by the Uttar Pradesh government under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), saying he has close links with extremist organisation Popular Front of India (PFI). Kappan has “deep links” with terror funding/ planning organisations like PFI and its student wing, Campus Front of India (CFI). These organizations have allegedly been found to have connections with Al Qaeda-linked organisations like IHH in Turkey, the Uttar Pradesh government has said in its affidavit.
It stated, “The investigation of the case has revealed that the Petitioner has a deep nexus with the extremist PFI and its chapters including CFI, and its top leadership, in particular P Koya, ex-SIMI member, PFI Executive member, and Editor in Chief of Thejas. P Koya, along with EM Abdul Rahman, has connections and interactions with Al Qaeda linked organization IHH in Turkey.”
Kappan approached the top court against the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on August 2 that had rejected his bail application saying “the use of tainted money cannot be ruled out”.
Earlier, the apex court sought the Uttar Pradesh government’s response to Kappan’s bail plea.
Kappan was booked under UAPA and other charges in the alleged Hathras conspiracy case. The hearing in the bail plea will take place on September 9.
Filing its response, the government further stated that Kappan was actually part of the PFI/CFI delegation to meet the family of the Hathras victim and foment discord and spread terror.
“Investigation has revealed that the said delegation was sent to Hathras on the directions of co-accused Rauf Sharif (National General Secretary, CFI, prime fundraiser and financial transaction handler for PFI/CFI), who had also provided finances for the trip,” it added.
“The investigation has revealed that the Petitioner is part of the larger conspiracy with the co-accused to foment religious discord and spread terror in the country, especially in the wake of anti-CAA protests and violence, the Babri Masjid decision of this Court and the Hathras incident,” the affidavit further stated.
