Lekha G
The Centre is in the process of banning Popular Front of India (PFI), an Islamic organisation which has been banned in several states, the Supreme Court was told on Wednesday.
The Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Uttar Pradesh told a bench of Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and A S Bopanna, that Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan was associated with PFI, whose office bearers were found to be associated with banned Student’s Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).
Mehta, while reading an affidavit filed in December last year, said, “No. Many officer bearers of PFI were found to be associated with SIMI”.
Kappan was arrested on way to Hathras where a 19-year-old Dalit woman had died after allegedly being gang-raped. The Court directed the Uttar Pradesh government to shift Kappan on grounds of medical ailment and directed state to provide medical treatment to the scribe.
It was also said that he will soon be transferred back to Mathura jail after his recovery.
However, the Top Court has granted liberty to approach an appropriate forum challenging his arrest or for any other relief and disposed of the plea filed by Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) and his wife, seeking his release from alleged illegal detention.
A FIR has been filed under various provisions of the IPC and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against four people namely Siddique, Atiq-ur Rehman, Masood and Alam having alleged links with the PFI.