SC tells Kapil Sibal on Plea seeking the Release of Journalist Siddique Kappan to “Approach Allahabad HC”

Journalist Siddique Kappan allowed to visit his ailing mother in Kerala for five days

The Supreme Court, while adjourning a habeas corpus case filed seeking the release of a Kerala Journalist, Siddique Kappan, who was arrested by the police officials of Uttar Pradesh while proceeding to cover the Hathras gang-rape case followed by the brutal murder of a 19-year old Dalit girl.

The bench headed by the Chief Justice of India, SA Bobde, while adjourning the plea, told the senior advocate, Kapil Sibal, the counsel for the petitioner, to approach the Allahabad High Court.

The counsel for the Petitioner, Kapil Sibal, submitted that the present plea was filed when it was a habeas corpus. Subsequently, an FIR was registered and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was then invoked.

Moreover, he stated that no court in the state of Uttar Pradesh would grant bail to the petitioner.

Replying to this statement, the Chief Justice asserted that

“Nothing will happen. If anything happens, you approach us.”

“You approach the High Court, we are here only in case something wrong happens”.

The Counsel for the petitioner then requested to approach the court under Article 32 of the Indian Constitution.