Siddique Kappan Detained in Kerala, Adding to Legal Troubles After UAPA Case in UP

Siddique Kappan, a journalist often in the headlines, has been arrested in Kerala. This arrest occurred while Kappan was out on bail related to a UAPA case. Kochi police arrested Kappan along with ten others on Saturday. They were charged with illegal assembly, obstructing public roadways, and attacking police personnel. The charges arose from a protest against the arrest of Rejesh M. Sheeba Siddique by the Maharashtra ATS. Sheeba Siddique’s arrest was linked to his statements on Operation Sindoor. The police alleged that Kappan and the others were involved in unlawful assembly, causing obstruction on public roads, disturbing public order, and assaulting police officers. The protest was organized by the Rejesh Solidarity Forum, with Kappan speaking at a gathering near the High Court Junction. Those arrested included advocate Pramod Puzhankara, C.P. Rasheed, Sajid Khalid, Dr. Hari, Bhaburaj Bhagwati, Ambika, and Mridula Bhavani. The police reported that a crowd of about 30 people, without permission, began using a microphone in a public space to chant slogans in support of Rejesh, which caused public inconvenience. When the police asked them to leave, they protested, and the police subsequently removed them. An FIR was filed under sections 189(2), 190, and 285 of the Indian Justice Code (BNS), along with sections 118(e) and 117(e) of the Kerala Police Act. The accusations encompass unlawful assembly, obstructing a public way, among other offenses. Earlier, BJP leaders in Ernakulam had lodged a complaint with the police, alleging that Kappan was violating his bail conditions and that the gathering should be prevented. Rejesh Siddique, a student activist and independent journalist from Kerala, was arrested from Nagpur in May and charged under UAPA. He was accused of posting on social media against Operation Sindoor and Operation Kagar (an anti-Maoist operation). In October 2020, Siddique Kappan was initially arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police. He was detained while on his way to cover the Hathras rape case and was charged under UAPA at the time; he is currently out on bail.