Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair arrested for ‘hurting religious sentiments’

A senior officer of the Delhi Police said the journalist was evasive on questions and neither provided the necessary technical equipment for the purpose of the investigation nor cooperated in the investigation.

Updated on: Jun 27, 2022, 23:24:32 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Journalist and Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair was arrested by the Delhi Police on Monday evening on charges of hurting religious sentiments under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Zubair runs Alt News platform which claims to debunk fake news. (Courtesy-Twitter-@zoo_bear)

A senior officer of the Delhi Police said Zubair is being produced before the magistrate for seeking further police remand for the purpose of the investigation of the case.

“Today, during the course of investigation of a case registered at PS-Special Cell u/s 153A/295A IPC, alleged Mohammed Zubair was joined in the investigation of the case and after having sufficient evidence on record, he was arrested in the present case,” said DCP Special Cell KPS Malhotra.

Another officer said the journalist was evasive on questions and neither provided the necessary technical equipment for the purpose of the investigation nor cooperated in the investigation. He added during investigation, Zubair's conduct was found questionable, which warranted his custodial interrogation to unravel conspiracy in this matter.

However, Pratik Sinha, co-founder of Alt News, shared a tweet, saying Zubair was called by the special cell, Delhi, for investigation in a 2020 case for which he already had a protection from the high court.

“However, around 6.45pm, we were told he has been arrested in some other FIR for which no notice was given which mandatory under law for the Sections under which he has been arrested,” he said. Pratik further said no copy of FIR was given to them despite repeated requests.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Delhi Police

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.