Anushka Mansharamani
On 30th January, the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) moved the Supreme Court for the grant of interim bail to Siddique Kappan, its secretary.
Siddique Kappan was detained in Uttar Pradesh jail and was charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
In the plea submitted it was mentioned that the health of Siddique Kappan’s mother, aged 90 has deteriorated in Kerala and she was in the hospital in a critical condition.
The union requested the Apex Court to grant interim bail to Siddique Kappan for 5 days to visit his mother.
A bench led by CJI Sharad A. Bobde recently allowed the meeting to take place over video call and did not object to the same.
Subsequently, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the court that arrangements to make the call would be made.
In the application filed the union stated that the jail authorities had arranged for a 10-minute video call between Siddique Kappan and his mother on 28th January however, the mother did not respond or look at the screen during the call.
The union further mentioned that before she lost consciousness, she had asked to see her son as a “last wish”.
Siddique Kappan was arrested in October 2020 and was detained during his travel to Hathras district in Uttar Pradesh where a Dalit girl had been gang raped and murdered.
The Uttar Pradesh government in December 2020 had objected to the plea filed by the KUWJ for his release as the government believed that he was the mastermind who was linked to the riots and was responsible for disturbing public tranquility nationwide.
Read also; Siddique Kappan illegal detention: SC adjourns hearing till January 2021