The Karnataka High Court has adjourned the case to May 12 after Bineesh Kodiyeri filed a bail application to visit his ailing father and CPM leader, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. Bineesh is accused in a money-laundering case related to a drugs seizure in Bengaluru.
Bineesh’s lawyers informed the court that their client is filing the bail application to visit his father, who is battling cancer. The HC asked whether the Enforcement Directorate (ED) could allow Bineesh to visit his ailing father for one day. However, the ED objected to the plea.
According to reports, Bineesh appealed that he should be allowed one-week interim bail to visit his father. However, the ED’s counsel rejected Bineesh’s plea, alleging that there was a chance of destroying evidence and influencing witnesses.
Journalist Siddique Kappan’s wife Raihanath Kappan approaches court to visit husband
Meanwhile, Kerala-based journalist Siddique Kappan’s wife Raihanath Kappan has approached the Mathura Court seeking permission to visit her ailing husband at AIIMS in Delhi. According to reports, Raihanath moved the Mathura Court after police guarding Siddique in the hospital refused to allow her or the lawyer from meeting Siddique. Reportedly, she also sent a letter to the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court seeking permission to meet Siddique.
Following the direction of the Supreme Court Siddique was shifted to AIIMS, Delhi for better treatment from Mathura amid tight security.
The medical reports of Siddique submitted at the Apex Court claim that he tested Covid-19 positive on April 21. In addition, he had multiple health issues like diabetes, heart ailment, blood pressure and bodily injury. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court directed the state government to shift Siddique to Delhi.
For over a week, Siddique was admitted to a Mathura hospital as he tested positive for Coronavirus. He was later taken back to the Mathura prison when he tested negative.
On October 5 last year, Kappan was arrested when he was on his way to a Hathras village from Delhi to report the sensational Hathras rape case, where a Dalit girl was allegedly gang-raped and murdered. Three others and also a driver was arrested along with him. Later, they were accused and booked under charges of sedition and UAPA.