New Delhi: Mohammad Alam – who was driving jailed journalist Siddique Kappan and four others to Hathras to report on a Dalit teenager’s gang-rape and eventual death when they were all arrested – has got bail in a PMLA case.
On August 23 this year, almost 23 months after his arrest, Alam was granted bail in the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act case lodged against him, by the Allahabad high court.
Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Saroj Yadav had then said that they found no complicity and involvement of “the appellant with the terrorist activities or any other activity against the nation”.
He had, however, continued to remain in jail because the Enforcement Directorate had named him in a PMLA case.
On October 31, he was granted bail by a sessions court in Lucknow, Alam’s lawyer told The Quint. Reports say he is likely to be released soon.
“Since when has driving been a crime? Or is it that driving Muslims is a crime?” Alam’s wife Bushra had told The Wire earlier.
In September, the Supreme Court granted bail to Kerala journalist Kappan, who Alam was driving when all of them were arrested in October 2020.
“Every person has the right to free expression. He is trying to show that victim needs justice and raise a common voice. Is that a crime in eyes of law?” the Chief Justice of India, U.U. Lalit had asked, granting him bail.
However, Kappan continues to be in jail with a Lucknow court having rejected his bail petition in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate.
