Jailed Kerala journo Siddique Kappan  granted 5-days interim bail to meet ailing mom

Jailed Kerala journo Siddique Kappan granted 5-days interim bail to meet ailing mom

The Bench clarified that the order is passed on an emotional appeal and will not prejudice the objections of UP against the maintainability.

The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the interim bail application filed by Kerala Union of Working Journalists, seeking release of journalist Siddique Kappan, citing critical health condition of his 90 years old bed-ridden mother and her last wish to see her son.

“Mother is said to be in a critical situation and that she is likely not to survive for many days. In these circumstances, we consider it appropriate to permit the detenu to visit his mother and return to prison at the end of the 5th day,” the bench led by CJI SA Bobde ordered.


Jailed Kerala journo Siddique Kappan  granted 5-days interim bail to meet ailing mom
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The Bench clarified that the order is passed on an emotional appeal and will not prejudice the objections of UP against the maintainability.

The CJI further recorded that Solicitor General expressed a grave apprehension that detenu is likely to use this opportunity to get himself paraded in public and gather support for his activities, which are otherwise against the law.

He thus directed that it is in the interests of justice that sufficient conditions are imposed on the detenu and appropriate safeguards are built into the order for the proposed visit. The Bench ordered:

“We permit Kappan to go to Kerala only for the purpose of seeing his mother. During the visit, he shall not give any interview to any media, including social media.

Jailed Kerala journo Siddique Kappan  granted 5-days interim bail to meet ailing mom
SC allows journalist Siddique Kappan to talk to his mother via video conferencing

Other bail conditions are as follows:

He shall not meet members of the public except his relatives and doctors and anybody else in connection with his mothers health.

He shall be escorted by a team of officers UP Police. Police at Kerala shall cooperate with the UP Police.

It shall be the responsibility of UP police to ensure the detenu’s travel to and from his mother’s house.

The CJI further made it clear that the Police shall protect Kappan’s house from outside and should not be present when he interacts with his mother.

Courtroom Exchange

During the hearing, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal (appearing for KUWJ) told the Supreme Court that a video call was arranged with the mother of Siddique Kappan on January 28 but she could not respond or even look at the mobile screen as she is presently very critical and in Hospital.

“Now doctors are saying that one or two days are left. Hospital has given up. Please give five days to visit. Any conditions may be imposed,” he added.

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