Delhi Police Adds 3 New Charges To FIR Against Alt News Co-Founder Mohammed Zubair

Mohammed Zubair was produced before a court today. The Delhi Police told Chief Metropolitan Magistrate that he was not required for custodial interrogation anymore

Mohammed Zubair, the co-founder of fact-checking website Alt News, being brought by the Delhi Police to Bengaluru, Thursday, June 30, 2022, as part of their investigation into a 2018 tweet.

New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Saturday added three new sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (FCRA) to the FIR lodged against Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair in connection with the alleged objectionable tweet , reported news agency ANI. While the journalist has filed for a bail application through his counsel, the Delhi police on Saturday sought his judicial custody. 

Zubair has been alleged by the Delhi Police to have conspired and destroyed evidence in the case and that he received donations from foreign countries. 

Delhi Police have added three new Sections - 201 (for the destruction of evidence - formatted phone & deleted tweets), 120-(B) (for criminal conspiracy) of IPC and 35 of FCRA in the matter.

A bail application has been filed by the counsel for Mohd Zubair.

— ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2022

The Alt News co-founder has been booked under three new sections in the FIR lodged against him. Of the three, two sections of the Indian Penal Code — Section 201 (for the destruction of evidence, formatted phone and deleted tweets) and Section 120B (for criminal conspiracy) have been invoked. The third is Section 35 of the FCRA in connection with the allegation that he received donations from foreign countries as per ANI report. 

Delhi Police have added three new Sections - 201 (for the destruction of evidence - formatted phone & deleted tweets), 120-(B) (for criminal conspiracy) of IPC and 35 of FCRA in the matter.

A bail application has been filed by the counsel for Mohd Zubair.

— ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2022

On Saturday, Atul Shirvastava was appointed as the Special Public Prosecutor for Delhi Police in connection with the case. 

The journalist was produced before a court in Delhi on Saturday on expiry of his five-day custodial interrogation. The Delhi Police informed Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Snigdha Sarvaria that Zubair was not required for custodial interrogation anymore, reported news agency PTI.

 

(With inputs from ANI and PTI)