Journalist Siddique Kappan Moves Supreme Court Seeking Release Of Passport
Gursimran Kaur Bakshi
27 Oct 2026 10:47 AM IST
The Supreme Court is set to hear on Monday(November 2) Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan's plea seeking release of his passport, which was deposited as part of bail conditions in the Hathras conspiracy case.
A bench comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe adjourned it to Monday after counsel for the State of Uttar Pradesh sought time to seek instructions.
Earlier, Kappan had filed another miscellaneous application for relaxation of the bail condition that he shall record his presence at the police station in Uttar Pradesh every Monday, which was allowed. On September 9, 2022, the Supreme Court's former Chief Justice of India U.U. Lalit and Justice S. Ravindra Bhat granted bail to Kappan while allowing an appeal against the order of the Allahabad High Court denying him bail.
Kappan was in custody since October 6, 2020, under Sections 17/18 of UAPA, Sections 120B, 153A/295A IPC, 65/72 IT Act for alleged conspiracy to incite riots following the gangrape-murder of a Dalit minor girl in Hathras, where he had gone to report.
The following bail conditions were imposed on Kappan by the Supreme Court:
- The appellant shall be taken to the trial court within 3 days and shall be released on bail on conditions as deemed fit by the trial court.
- It shall be the condition of bail that the appellant shall stay within the jurisdiction of Jangpura in Delhi.
- The appellant shall not leave the jurisdiction of Delhi without the express permission of trial court.
- The appellant shall record his presence in local police station every Monday. This condition shall apply for first 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, the appellant shall be at liberty to go to Kerala but shall report to the local police station in similar fashion, that is every Monday, and mark his presence in the register kept on that behalf.
- The appellant shall either in person or through lawyer shall attend the trial court on every single day.
- The appellant shall deposit his passport with the investigative machinery. The appellant shall not misuse the liberty and shall not get in touch with any of the person connected with the controversy.
In December 2022, the Allahabad High Court granted bail to Kappan in the PMLA case and he walked out of jail in February 2023.
