UP court rejects Alt News co-founder Mohd Zubair's bail plea in fact-check case

In another development, the Hathras police has now moved an application in the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate seeking Zubair's remand.

Updated on: Jul 16, 2022, 18:56:49 IST

By HT News Desk

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A court in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday rejected the bail plea Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair in connection with an FIR lodged against him in 2021 for allegedly promoting enmity.

The bail application was moved before Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Mohamaddi on July 11 after the court sent Zubair to a 14-day judicial custody in the case. The information was shared by KP Singh, assistant prosecution officer.

The journalist was summoned by a court in Lakhimpur Kheri in a case registered against him in September 18, 2021, after a complaint was filed by a journalist of a Sudarshan News channel for a fact-check tweet. The complainant had reportedly accused Zubair of misleading people “through his tweet about his channel”.

A bail hearing in the case on July 13 was postponed till Saturday after the plaintiff raised an objection against the application from Zubair's end that was filed in English.

In another development, the Hathras police has moved an application in the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate seeking Zubair's remand.

On Friday, a Delhi court granted him bail in a case related to an allegedly objectionable tweet, observing that "the voice of dissent is necessary for a healthy democracy". The FIR in this case was lodged on June 20 on the grounds of a complaint filed by the Duty Officer of the IFSO unit of the Delhi Police Special Cell, which tackles cyber crimes.

Zubair was first arrested on June 21 and sent to police custody after an First Information Report (FIR) was registered against him based on a Twitter posting, which another Twitter handle alleged that it "hurt Hindu sentiments."

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HT News Desk
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