India Tomorrow
NEW DELHI—Supreme Court has allowed Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan to visit her mother on “humanitarian grounds”.
Kappan, who was arrested on October 5, 2020, while on his way to Hathras to cover the gangrape and murder of a Dalit girl in Hathras district, is currently lodged in Mathura jail and facing terrorism charges under UAPA.
While allowing Kappan to visit his mother in Kerala, the apex court directed that he will not talk to media, including social media.
The court directed that he will meet only his mother, doctors treating his mother and his family members and would stay at his home only.
The court has directed that Kappan will be back to Mathura jail within five days.
The order was given on a petition by Kerala Union of Working Journalists(KUWJ) which is giving legal aid to Kappan. Kappan is a member of KUWJ and was general secretary of KUWJ’s Delhi unit till his arrest.
Speaking to India Tomorrow, Kappan’s advocate Wills Mathew said that it was for the UP police to make arrangements for Kappan’s visit to his mother.
“The Supreme Court has directed the UP police to take Kappan to Kerala, arrange his meeting visit to his mother and bring him back, all within five days”, Mathew said.
Kappan’s 90-year-old mother is severely ill and currently admitted in a hospital. She remains unconscious for most of the time. According to Kappan’s family members, she inquires about Kappan whenever she regains consciousness.
