SC Starts Hearing Alt News Co-Founder Zubair's Plea To Quash Six FIRs Lodged In UP

On Monday, the Supreme Court consented to hear Alt News co-founder Mohd Zubair's appeal to dismiss six FIRs lodged against him in Uttar Pradesh for allegedly inciting religious intolerance.

Alt News co-founder Mohammad Zubair.

Source : PTI

The Supreme Court has started hearing Alt News co-founder Mohd Zubair's petition to dismiss six FIRs filed against him in Uttar Pradesh for allegedly outraging religious, news agency PTI reported. A bench led by Chief Justice N V Ramana took notice of Mohammed Zubair's counsel Vrinda Grover's remarks that the petitioner, a fact checker and journalist, was facing a flurry of FIRs and that his case required an urgent hearing.

SC agrees to hear Alt News co-founder Mohd Zubair's plea Monday itself seeking to quash six FIRs lodged against him in UP

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 18, 2022

“List it before Justice DY Chandrachud. You can mention before that bench,” the bench was quoted by PTI in its report. 

Mohammed Zubair's new petition also challenges the Uttar Pradesh government's formation of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the six cases.

According to the appeal, the topic of the FIR being investigated by the Delhi Police special cell is all six FIRs lodged in Uttar Pradesh that have been moved to the SIT for inquiry.

Separate FIRs have been filed against Mohammed Zubair in the districts of Sitapur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Ghaziabad, Muzaffarnagar, and Hathras for allegedly hurting religious sensibilities, making disparaging remarks about news anchors, disrespecting Hindu gods, and posting inflammatory content.

(With Inputs From ANI & PTI)