Sibal mentions Siddique Kappan case during hearing of Arnab Goswami's bail plea
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New Delhi: Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal mentioned Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan during the hearing of Arnab Goswami's bail plea in the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
Appearing for state of Maharashtra, Sibal objected to granting interim bail as the Alibag Sessions Court has listed his bail plea for hearing on Thursday.
As the hearing progressed, he mentioned Siddique Kappan's case and said:
"'A Kerala journalist was arrested by UP police when he was going to Hathras to report. We came to this Court under Art 32. The Court said go to lower court. Petition posted after four weeks. Such things are also happening,"
Justice Chandrachud did not pass any comments on Sibal's submission.
Earlier, Justice Chandrachud said that case after case High Courts are denying personal liberty. To this Sibal said that in 99 per cent of such cases, he was on the other side. To this Justice Chandrachud said "let today fall upon the 99 per cent cases".
The Uttar Pradesh police arrested Siddique Kappan, a reporter of Malayalam news portal Azhimukham, in October when he was on the way to Hathras' rape and murder incident where a 19 year old dalit girl was the victim.
A habeas corpus plea filed by Kerala Journalist Union seeking his release was adjourned by the apex court for four weeks.
Raihanath Kappan, wife of the journalist who has been lodged in a jail after his arrest 37 days ago, had questioned the double standard of BJP who protested against the arrest of Goswami.
"Why this double standard? Goswami is an accused in a suicide abetment case. Why are these people not questioning the arrest of my husband and other journalists and activists jailed on fabricated charges?" Raihanath asked during a media interview on Monday.