EX-LU V-C stands as surety for journalist Siddique Kappan

Lucknow: Prof Roop Rekha Verma, former Vice-Chancellor of the Lucknow University (LU), has volunteered to stand as surety to fulfil the court conditions for Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan following the bail granted by the Supreme Court in the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) case.
Even after 10 days, no one from Uttar Pradesh had come forward to stand surety for Kerala scribe.
On September 9, the Supreme Court had granted bail to Kappan while underscoring that “every citizen has the right to free expression”.
Kappan who was arrested on his way to Hathras in September 2020 to report on the incident of the gang-rape and death of a Dalit girl, has been in jail for nearly two years.
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Prof Verma said: “I am not completely aware of the details of Kappan’s case, but it looks that opening mouth is a serious crime. He was heading to cover a crime incident in Hathras, but the scribe is arrested and suddenly serious offences Acts and sections such as UAPA, money laundering are slapped on him. Further, he becomes suspected of having links with notorious outfits.