‘Triumph of liberty…’: Politicians hail Mohd Zubair's release, Chidambaram makes a plea to SC

The Supreme Court gave him interim bail in all FIRs lodged against him in Uttar Pradesh, saying "exercise of the power of arrest must be pursued sparingly".

Updated on: Jul 20, 2022, 23:24:23 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

A number of politicians, mostly from the Opposition, hailed the release of Alt News co-founder and journalist Mohammed Zubair from Tihar jail late on Wednesday after spending 24 days behind bars. The fact-checker was arrested by the Delhi Police last month for allegedly "hurting religious sentiments" through a satirical tweet he made in 2018.

Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair released from Tihar, in New Delhi. (ANI)

The Supreme Court gave him interim bail in all FIRs lodged against him in Uttar Pradesh, saying "exercise of the power of arrest must be pursued sparingly".

A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, Surya Kant and AS Bopanna also refused to restrain Zubair from tweeting in the future as sought by the Uttar Pradesh government, saying it is like restraining a lawyer from arguing.

As videos of Zubair coming out of the jail emerged, political leaders, including Congress' P Chidambaram and TMC MP Mahua Moitra, took to Twitter to congratulate the journalist and laud the judiciary.

"It is the triumph of liberty over tyranny," said Chidambaram on Twitter, while urging the Supreme Court to release "all other Zubairs too and put an end to the abuse of the power of arrest."

Moitra, who has landed in a controversy and if facing multiple FIRs over a comment on Goddess Kaali, wrote, "Truth always prevails."

Youth Congress national president Srinivas BV shared a video of Zubair being released from the jail and wrote, "Welcome Back, Zubair. More power to you!"

Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi also took to Twitter to congratulate Zubair.

Supriya Shrinate, social media chairperson for the Congress in UP, shared a photograph of Zubair with his lawyer on Twitter and wrote, "This visual fills my heart with both happiness and remorse."

"Glad to see Zubair walk out. But he should never have been jailed in the first place," she added.

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

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.