UP Police slam Kerala journalists’ union; cite its financial irregularities and temple land grabbing in objection to Kappan?s bail application

Uttar Pradesh government has exposed Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) in its affidavit filed at the Supreme Court concerning Siddique Kappan’s anticipatory bails. UP government has mentioned all the irregularities, both financial and land grabbing, committed by KUWJ. In the 59-page affidavit, the government has said that KUWJ was under the scanner for financial theft and vigilance under Kerala government is currently probing this organisation. Apart from that, KUWJ tried to be a proxy organisation to save Siddique who is an activist of the Islamist Popular Front of India.

“At the outset, it is submitted that the petitioner (KUWJ) itself lacks bonafide and does not deserve any relief from the Hon’ble Court. The Delhi Unit of the Petitioner’s organisation ‘Kerala Union of Working Journalists’ of which accused Siddique Kappan is a Secretary, is itself facing vigilance inquiry in the State of Kerala for embezzlement and misappropriation of government funds upon directions of Hon’ble High Court of Kerala in a public interest litigation,” said the affidavit.

UP Police has sought dismissal of the petition filed by KUWJ, terming it as a proxy petition to save PFI activist Siddique in the grab of journalism. UP police said, “it is submitted that considering the role of the person in judicial custody in whose behalf this proxy petition is filed, it appears that he does not wish to face the examination of his role by the competent court.”

Rauf Sharif, a national leader of the Campus Front of India, linked to PFI was arrested by the ED while returning from Muscat due to the look-out notice issued against him by the UP police in connection with Delhi riots. The affidavit also says that there was a huge flow of foreign money to the bank accounts of both Siddique and Sharif. It also accuses Siddique of using his journalist identity to get into Hathras area and trigger violence. The UP government, though the 59-page affidavit has exposed the strong links PFI has with KUWJ.