Kerala Union of Working journalists application seekinginterim bail for journalist Siddiqui Kappan to meet his 90 years old ailing bed-riddenmother has been accepted by Supreme Court of India on Monday.
The bench led by Chief Justice of India, Sharad A Bobdeobserved, "Mother is said to be in a critical situation and that she islikely not to survive for many days. In these circumstances, we consider itappropriate to permit the detenu to visit his mother and return to prison atthe end of the 5th day."
According to a report published in Live Law, the orderhas been passed on an emotional appeal. The Solicitor General of India, TusharMehta expressed apprehensions that the detenu will gather support for himselfin the garb of meeting his mother.
The CJI then director to impose several conditions on hisbail. The CJI led bench ordered, "We permit Kappan to go to Kerala onlyfor the purpose of seeing his mother. During the visit, he shall not give anyinterview to any media, including social media."
Moreover, he won't meet anyone else except his relativesand doctors looking after his mother's health. Kappan will be escorted by theofficers of UP Police and Kerala police is expected to cooperate with them. Courtalso said it will be a responsibility of Uttar Pradesh police to ensure thedetenu's travel to and from his mother's house.
The court clarified that police won't be present when heinteracts with his mother and the police shall protect Kappan's house fromoutside.
Siddique Kappan was arrested in October last year whileon his way to cover the Hathras gang rape in Uttar Pradesh.