Hathras Rape Case: SC Seeks UP Govt Response On Plea Against Arrest Of Kerala Journalist Siddique Kappan; Next Hearing On Friday

Kerala based journalist Siddique Kappan was arrested on his way to Hathras to meet the family of the rape victim, whose death triggered nationwide protest in October.

(Imgage: PTI)

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to Uttar Pradesh government seeking response on a plea filed by Kerala Union of Working Journalists, challenging the arrest of journalist Siddique Kappan, who was arrested on his way to Hathras to meet the family of the rape victim, whose death triggered nationwide protest in October. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, Appearing for the Union, sought interim bail for the journalist at which, the three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde said that it would like to hear the State first, and posted the matter for further hearing on Friday. The bench while hearing the matter asked the union why it came straight way instead of appraoching the Allahabad High Court. As stated in an Indian Express report, the SC bench said, "We will issue notice. We are keeping it on Friday," adding that "We are not on merits of the case. Why haven’t you gone to the High Court." On October 7, four men identified as Atiq-ur-Rehman, Siddique, Masood Ahmed and Alam men were detained by the Uttar Pradesh Police from a toll plaza in Mathura while they were on their way to Hathras to meet the family of 19-year-old Dalit girl, who was brutally gangraped and murdered. The four journalists were booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and charged with sedition for their alleged link with the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its students’ organisation Campus Front of India (CFI). A journalist body of Kerala identified Malappuram native Siddique by his full name as Siddique Kappan, and claimed he is a senior Delhi-based journalist working with some Malayalam news outlets. Later, the Union filed a habeas corpus petition in the top court against the arrest of the journalist, alleging the detention illegal and constitutional.