A 3-judge bench led by CJI S A Bobde has allowed journalist Siddique Kappan, who was arrested for covering the Hathras gang-rape, to visit his ailing mother in Kerala for five days. The court was hearing a petition by the Kerala Union for Working Journalists (KUWJ), which sought the release of journalist Siddique Kappan on interim bail for five days to meet his 90-year-old ailing mother, Kadija Kutty. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta opposed the granting of bail as he alleged that the journalist would misuse this opportunity to garner political support for his cause which is against the government. The CJI refused to accept this concern, but some rules were imposed on the journalist on his short trip to Kerala which included:
- He shall not meet members of the public except his relatives and doctors and anybody else in connection with his mother’s health.
- Mr. Kappan shall be escorted by a team of officers UP Police. The Kerala police should cooperate with the UP Police.
- It shall be the responsibility of UP police to ensure the journalist’s travel to and from his mother’s house.
- The police shall also protect Kappan’s house from outside and should not be present when he interacts with his mother.
