The Supreme Court on Monday granted interim bail of five days for journalist Siddique Kappan, who was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police in October last year. Kappan had been arrested with three others as they were travelling to Hathras district, where a young dalit woman had been raped and succumbed to her injuries from the incident.
Kappan and the three others were alleged to be linked to the Popular Front of India, an Islamist group, which was accused of trying to cause unrest over the Hathras incident. Kappan, a native of Kerala, has been lodged in a jail in Mathura.
The Kerala Union of Working Journalists had approached the Supreme Court for granting bail to Kappan. In an interim bail application, the KUWJ sought relief for Siddique Kappan, citing the poor health of his 90-year-old mother, who had expressed a wish to meet him.
The Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde, noted Kappan's mother was said to be in a critical condition and was not likely to survive for many days. "In these circumstances, we consider it appropriate to permit the detenu to visit his mother and return to prison at the end of the 5th day," Bobde was quoted as saying by Live Law.
The solicitor general expressed apprehension that Kappan may use the bail period to parade himself in public and gather support. Taking note of this, the Supreme Court imposed conditions on Kappan.
The Supreme Court bench was quoted by Live Law as saying "We permit the detenu to go to Kerala only for the purpose of seeing his mother. During the visit, he shall not give any interview to any media, including social media."
also read
- ‘A tight slap to Congress-led opposition’: PM Modi on SC’s EVM, VVPAT verdict
- No going back: SC rejects paper ballot voting, complete verification of EVM-VVPAT slips
- Husband has no control over wife's 'stridhan': Supreme Court
- 'Can't control elections': Supreme Court reserves order in EVM-VVPAT case
The Supreme Court noted it was the responsibility of the Uttar Pradesh Police to ensure Kappan's travel to and from his mother's house. The Supreme Court said Kerala Police should cooperate with their Uttar Pradesh counterparts. Kappan has been barred from meeting members of the public, except his relatives and doctors to discuss his mother's health.
Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh government had agreed to facilitate a phone call between Kappan and his mother. KUWJ's lawyer Kapil Sibal said the video call was arranged on January 28, but his mother was too sick to even look at the phone.
Sibal was quoted by Live Law as telling the court, "Now doctors are saying that one or two days are left. Hospital has given up. Please give five days to visit. Any conditions may be imposed."
