Delhi Court Grants Bail To Alt News Co-Founder Mohammad Zubair, Orders Not To Leave Country

The court ruled that accused Mohammed Zubair could not leave the country without the court's permission and granted him release on a personal bail bond of Rs 50, 000.

Alt News Co-Founder Mohammed Zubair.

Source : PTI

Sessions Court of Patiala House Court on Friday granted bail to Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair in a case related to an "objectionable tweet" he had posted in 2018 against a Hindu deity, news agency ANI reported.

The court ruled that accused Mohammed Zubair could not leave the country without the court's permission and granted him release on a personal bail bond of Rs 50, 000.

Court said accused Mohd Zubair can't leave the country without prior permission of the court; granted him bail on a personal bail bond of Rs 50, 000.

— ANI (@ANI) July 15, 2022

Earlier on Thursday, Zubair petitioned the Supreme Court for the dismissal of six FIRs filed against him in various districts of Uttar Pradesh for allegedly infringing on religious emotions, as well as temporary bail in all of the instances.

Zubair was detained on June 27 by Delhi Police in connection with an alleged offensive tweet he sent against a Hindu god in 2018. He was taken from Tihar prison to the Hathras court in connection with a complaint filed against him for calling Hindu seers "hate mongers."

The Uttar Pradesh government formed a two-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by IG Dr Preetinder Singh to investigate six charges filed against Zubair in Sitapur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Ghaziabad, Muzaffarnagar, and Hathras.

The Supreme Court granted Zubair temporary reprieve last Thursday, agreeing to grant him interim release for five days in connection with the UP case. However, Zubair was unable to leave jail due to the Delhi Police 2018 tweet case, in which he was granted bail today.

Atul Srivastavaon, special public prosecutor for the Delhi Police, filed an objection to Zubair's bail application before the Delhi High Court on Thursday, arguing that release should not be granted at this time. Where the economy is concerned, the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) is also present.

"56 lakh rupees were received by the organisation where he (Mohd Zubair) is a director violating FCRA. We gave notice to the Razor pay. There is also a certain forgery in this case which may be done, we are looking at that. The bank's notice has already been issued," the Delhi Police had said. 

According to the police, it was done deliberately and deftly. "It is not as straightforward as Zubair's counsel has represented," a lawyer for the Delhi Police said.

(With Inputs From ANI)