Delhi Court rejects bail plea of Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair, sent to 1-day police custody
India Today
A Delhi court rejected the bail application of Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair and was sent to one-day police custody on Monday.
The bail application of Mohammed Zubair, the co-founder of fact-checking website Alt News, was rejected by a court in Delhi. The court also granted 1-day custody of Zubair to the Delhi Police.
The Delhi Police had moved an application seeking one-day remand. After considering all the facts and merits of the case, court granted one-day police custody. According to the police, accused Mohammad Zubair was served notice under section 41 A CrPC, but he was evasive and not co-operating in the investigation. The same was heard at length and not finding the merits, the bail was declined.
However, the court allowed the plea of counsel of accused Mohammad Zubair to meet him once in a day for half an hour in police custody to provide the legal assistance.
The Delhi Police on Monday arrested Mohammed Zubair for hurting religious sentiments and inciting riots. He was arrested based on a complaint by a man who tagged the Delhi Police on Twitter. He was summoned today for questioning in a 2020 case, but was arrested after this case was filed immediately.
“Today, during the course of investigation of a case registered at Special Cell police station, Mohammed Zubair joined the probe. After having sufficient evidence on record, he was arrested in the present case. He is being produced before a magistrate for seeking further police remand for the purpose of investigation,” the police said.
Zubair has been charged under sections 153 (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) and 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code.
According to a statement made by AltNews founder Pratik Sinha, no notice of the FIR or copy of the FIR has been given to Mohammed Zubair, his family, or friends. Pratik Sinha also alleged that the police had called Mohammed Zubair to join investigation in a different FIR, but arrested him in a different case.
