Previously, Siddique Kappan was allowed to speak to his mother via video call. (Archive)
New Delhi:
Siddique Kappan, the Kerala journalist arrested on his way to Hathras in Uttar Pradesh to report on the alleged gang rape of a Dalit woman, received a five-day High Court bond, with conditions, to visit his 90-year-old father. years. old woman, said to be on her deathbed.
During the visit to Kerala, she cannot speak to the media or post on social media and she cannot meet anyone other than family members, doctors and anyone related to her mother’s health, the Supreme Court said. You will be escorted by police officers to Kerala from UP and it will be the responsibility of UP police to ensure your travel and return.
Last month, he was allowed to speak to his mother via video call, but was reportedly unable to speak to her because he was unconscious at a hospital in his hometown in Malappuram, Kerala.
The court allowed the call after attorney Kapil Sibal argued that Kappan’s mother was ill and had asked to speak to her son. “I don’t care if the court dismisses (the petition), but listen to us. Mr. Kappan’s mother is unconscious … we submitted an application. Before his mother passes away, please allow videoconferencing so that he can speak to her,” Said Mr. Sibal had argued.
Kappan and three others were on their way to Hathras to report the alleged gang rape of the woman, who later died in hospital when they were arrested and charged under a terrorism law. UP police said they acted on a tip about “suspicious people.”
In the FIR (First Information Report), the police used a section of the Law (Prevention) of Illegal Activities that tries to “raise funds for a terrorist act”. Since then, Mr. Kappan has been in Mathura Prison.
The Kerala Union of Worker Journalists, which requested bail for Mr. Kappan, has denied the charges against him and has alleged that he was tortured in prison.
The UP government opposed the request for bail, accusing Kappan of trying to cause trouble while posing as a journalist for a missing newspaper. The investigations had revealed “shocking findings,” the state said.
Shortly after his arrest, the union had addressed the Supreme Court claiming that Mr. Kappan’s detention is “illegal” and had asked the UP government to bring him to court.
The UP administration’s handling of the Hathras case was widely criticized. The police were accused of delaying responding to the woman’s complaint. After he died in hospital from his injuries, the police also controversially removed his body, went to his village and cremated him at 2 a.m. in the absence of his family.
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