The Delhi Police is investigating the source of funding to fact-checking website Alt News whose co-founder Mohammed Zubair was arrested a day ago. The Patiala House Court on Tuesday remanded Zubair in four-day police custody. The journalist is likely to be taken to Bengaluru on Wednesday.
Seeking his five-day custody, police told the court that his "objectionable tweet of 2018 led to a Twitter storm with hate speeches, detrimental to communal harmony".
Police said Zubair had used controversial tweets in effort to get fame, adding other FIRs were also registered against him in different matters. Earlier, police said Zubair was 'evasive' when asked questions and did not provide the 'necessary technical equipment' or co-operate with the authorities.
Also read | ‘Those who dare to protest…’: Mamata on Mohd Zubair, Teesta Setalvad's arrests
News agency PTI quoted a senior officer as saying that a four-member police team will be sent to Zubair's house in Bengaluru to recover evidence, including the mobile phone or laptop used by him for posting the tweet in question.
"In such cases, finding the gadget used to post such tweets and the intention behind posting such a tweet is important. During questioning, he has been evasive on both the fronts. We found out that his phone was formatted. His evasiveness formed the grounds for his arrest," said KPS Malhotra, deputy commissioner of police (intelligence fusion and strategic operations).
{{/usCountry}}"In such cases, finding the gadget used to post such tweets and the intention behind posting such a tweet is important. During questioning, he has been evasive on both the fronts. We found out that his phone was formatted. His evasiveness formed the grounds for his arrest," said KPS Malhotra, deputy commissioner of police (intelligence fusion and strategic operations).
{{/usCountry}}During the hearing, Zubair's counsel said the photo that he had used in the tweet was from a Hindi film of 1983 by Hrishikesh Mukherjee ‘Kissi Se Na Kehna’, and that the film was not banned.
The court, however, rejected the submission saying it was of no assistance to the accused at this stage.
Meanwhile, Zubair's colleague and Alt News co-founder Pratik Sinha rejected a report by that said the former had received ₹50 lakh in his account in the last three months. Sharing the news article on Twitter, Sinha wrote, "Fact-check: Absolutely lies. Police is linking donations received by Alt News to Zubair. All the money that Alt News receives goes to the organisations bank and not any individuals. The bank statement of Zubair's personal account of which I have a copy debunks this falsehood."
On Monday, Sinha alleged that Zubair was arrested in a case for which no notice was given by the police, which is mandatory under law for the sections under which he has been held.
His arrest has led to condemnations from several quarters, including journalists' bodies and Opposition parties.