The Uttar Pradesh government said in the Supreme Court today that the Kerala-based journalist Siddique Kappan, arrested on his way to Hathras where a young Dalit woman had died after allegedly being gang-raped, was going there under the garb of journalism with a very determined design to create caste divide and disturb law and order situation.
In an affidavit filed in the Supreme court, the Kerala government has alleged that Siddique Kappan is the office secretary of Popular Front of India (PFI) and was using a journalist cover by showing the identity card of a Kerala-based newspaper which was closed in 2018.
Opposing the appeal filed by Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) questioning Siddique Kappan's arrest and seeking his bail, the state has said it is not maintainable and the petitioner has no locus as the accused is already in touch with his advocates and relatives and he himself can file proceedings through his lawyers.
It is disclosed during the investigation that he along with other PFI activists and their student wing (Campus Front of India) leaders were going to Hathras under the garb of Journalism with a very strong-minded design to create a caste divide and disturb law and order situation were found carrying incriminating material, the affidavit said.
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