The interim bail granted to journalist and fact-checker Mohammed Zubair in relation to the FIR filed against him in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, has been extended by the Supreme Court. On September 7, Zubair’s request to vacate the FIR (first information report) will be heard. Additionally, the protection from arrest has been postponed until the next hearing.
After posting videos of three right-wing leaders facing separate hate speech charges in Sitapur, Zubair was charged with hurting religious sentiments.
The Supreme Court had previously granted the co-founder of Alt-News protection from arrest in the case. When ordering the interim bail, the top court stated that Zubair would have to stay within the Sitapur court’s jurisdiction and not tweet or obliterate any evidence.
Three cases have been filed against the 33-year-old in this case, two in Uttar Pradesh and one in Delhi. In addition to Sitapur, a case has also been filed in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh. The co-founder of Alt News was placed in judicial custody for 14 days on Monday after a local court in Lakhimpur Kheri rejected the state police’s request for his custody. The next hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.
The cases are all connected to tweets. He was detained on June 17 by the Delhi Police for allegedly injuring religious feelings. At the Special Public Prosecutor’s request, a Delhi court postponed his bail hearing for Thursday, citing unavailability. His attorney, Vrinda Grover, allegedly used delay strategies.
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, speaking on behalf of the state government, informed a bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna that the state government intended to file a counter affidavit in response to Zubair’s request to have the FIR filed in the case quashed.
On June 1, Bhagwan Sharan, the president of the Hindu Sher Sena Sitapur district, filed a complaint against Zubair in Uttar Pradesh under section 295A of the Indian Penal Code (deliberate and malicious act intended to outrage religious feelings) and section 67 of the IT Act.
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, speaking on behalf of the state government, informed a bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna that the state government intended to file a counter affidavit in response to Zubair’s request to have the FIR filed in the case quashed.
Zubair, who is requesting bail from the high court, claims that a “new” police strategy is in place in hate speech cases and communal crimes where FIRs are registered against criminals as well as witnesses.