Kriti Agrawal
Raihanth Kappan, the wife of Kerala-based Journalist Siddique Kappan, has written a letter to Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, through Advocate Wills Mathews, requesting his immediate intervention to release Kappan from Mathura Medical College to Mathura Jail because his “life is in serious danger.”
Siddique Kappan (along with three others) was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police while on his way to cover the Hathras rape and murder case of a 19-year-old Dalit woman; they were later booked under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and charges of sedition were also filed against them.
The Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) has denied any connection with Kappan and the Popular Front of India (PFI). In this regard, the KUWJ claims that the UP government took contradictory positions in two affidavits.
The letter says that Kappan (who recently tested positive for COVID-19) is chained like an animal in a cot at the Medical College Hospital in Mathura, with no mobility, and that he has been unable to eat or go to the toilet for more than four days and is in critical condition.
Letter adds that, “If immediate corrective steps are not taken, it will result in his untimely death.”
As a result, the letter requests that immediate steps/orders be taken to return Kappan from the Medical College Hospital to the Mathura Jail as an interim relief, pending the outcome of the mentioning application filed on April 22, 2021.
The letter from his wife also notes that, despite knowing the legal protocol for listing, she was compelled to approach CJI directly due to a problem arising from a Habeas Corpus petition that had been pending for more than 6 months now.
Letter importantly quoted that, “Media is the breath of democracy, and it is an attempt for giving breath to a media person, who is in jail for the last more than 6 Months, and the Habeas Corpus petition also pending since 06.10.2020. The representation given to Jail Superintendents, Mathura by message is pending.”
It should be noted that the KUWJ has petitioned the Supreme Court for the transfer of Kerala Journalist Siddique Kappan to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) or Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi, citing a medical emergency.
Letter also pleaded that, “It is reliably believed that more than 50 inmates of Mathura Jail suffering from COVID, with various of scarcities, and even drinking water from the toilet, seriously affecting hygiene, health, all leading to a major disaster in the making. In short, as of today, the life of Mr. Siddique Kappan is in danger for all reasons”
