SC issues notice to Uttar Pradesh govt on plea against Kerala journalist's arrest on way to Hathras

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday sought the Uttar Pradesh government's response on a plea challenging the arrest of Kerala-based journalist Siddique Kappan while on his way to Hathras where a young Dalit woman had died after allegedly being gang-raped.

A bench of Chief Justice SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian asked the counsel for the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) as to why it has not approached the Allahabad High Court and came to it straight away.

"We will issue notice. We are keeping it on Friday," the bench said when senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the association, sought bail for the scribe saying that there was nothing against him. "The FIR does not name him. No offences alleged. He is in jail since 5 October," Sibal said.

While raising questions about not approaching the high court, the bench said, "We are not on merits of the case. Why haven't you gone to the High Court."

Earlier, the top court had said it would hear the plea after four weeks and in the meantime, the journalists' body could approach the Allahabad High Court for relief.

Journalist Siddique Kappan was arrested on 5 October while he was on his way to Hathras, home to the young Dalit woman who died after being gang-raped, allegedly by four upper-caste men.