Despite bail, Siddique Kappan, co-accused still await release

After Supreme Court granted bail to journalist Siddique Kappan in the UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act) case on September 9, last Friday, the Allahabad High Court also granted bail in the alleged money laundering case under the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act), thus allowing him to step out of the Tihar jail walls after languishing for two long years.
But according to Kappan’s lawyer Mohamed Danish K S, Kappan’s release is taking time , thanks to the cumbersome bail process.
Also Read Justice delayed, but happy: Siddique Kappan’s wife on grant of bail to him When Kappan was granted bail for the UAPA case, he was finding difficulties in getting two local sureties. A surety is a person that assures the defendant will attend his or her court hearing after being granted bail.
When news broke out regarding this, former acting vice chancellor at Lucknow University Roop Rekha Verma (79) came forward and offered her car as surety. Another person offered their bank account and became the second local.
Also Read EX-LU V-C stands as surety for journalist Siddique Kappan Speaking to Scroll.in , Danish said that the court is yet to summon those standing as sureties in the UAPA case. “After that bail bond will be issued and Kappan has to surrender his passport,” he said.
For the PMLA case, Danish says that they are yet to find local sureties, after the Allahabad HC granted Kappan bail in the case on December 23.