Siddique Kappan allowed to talk with advocate for five minutes, Kappan says he was framed

NEW DELHI: After 49 days since his arrest, Malayali journalist Siddique Kappan who was arrested on his way to report the Hathras case, was finally allowed to contact his lawyer on Tuesday evening. He was reportedly allowed to talk for five minutes with Advocate Wills Mathews, to whom he told about his well being and said he was getting food and medicines on time.

Advocate Mathews is the lawyer for KUWJ, the organisation of which Siddique Kappan is a part of. The advocate informed that Kappan said he was framed in the case.

The Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) has filed a habeas corpus petition in the Supreme Court of India seeking Kappan's release from custody. An application before the magistrate in UP's Mathura has also been filed in this regard apart from a second plea in the Supreme Court.

Siddique Kappan was booked under Section 124A, 153A, and 295A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) which correspond to charges of sedition, promoting enmity on grounds of religion and deliberate acts to outrage religious feelings. In addition, the FIR registered against Kappan in Mathura on October 7 shows that he was also booked under provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).