Shocking facts have emerged against Siddique Kappan, UP tells SC

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 2

The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that shocking findings have emerged in the probe against Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan even as his counsel referred to Arnab Goswami’s case to underline the need for grant of bail.

During hearing on a petition by Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) challenging the October 5 arrest of Kappan while on his way to Hathras to cover the death of a Dalit woman who died after allegedly being gang-raped, senior counsel Kapil Sibal referred to TV journalist Arnab Goswami, who was granted interim bail by the top court in an abetment to suicide case. Sibal said he would rely on the verdict as law has been laid down in it on bail.

“Every case is different…You show us any precedent where an association had moved the court seeking relief…We want to hear the case as per the law and the matter should have been heard in the high court,” a Bench headed by chief Justice of India SA Bobde said, posting it for hearing next week.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Bench that the investigation conducted so far has found some shocking findings. He was a PFI activist who attempted to create caste, communal tension in Hathras, Mehta said on behalf of Uttar Pradesh Government, adding, the newspaper he claimed to represent had already shut down two years ago.

The Supreme Court had on November 16 issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government to respond to KUWJ petition challenging Kappan's arrest.

 The rape and murder case is being probed by the CBI probe. After the September 14 incident, the 19-year-old woman had died on September 29 at Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital during treatment and her body was cremated at night near her home on September 30. 

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