SC orders immediate release of fact-checker Mohammed Zubair

New Delhi: Fact-checker and co-founder of AltNews, Mohammed Zubair is to be set free forthwith as the Supreme Court on Wednesday granted him interim bail in all UP Police FIRs.

A bench led by Justice DY Chandrachud said that of power of arrest must be pursued sparingly by the Police. Tihar jail authorities have been ordered to ensure that Zubair is released before 6 pm today, subject to furnishing bail bonds.

The view taken by the bench was that there is “no justification” to keep Zubair in continued custody any further and subject him to diverse proceedings when the gravamen of allegations arises from the Tweets which forms part of investigation by Delhi Police, in which case he has already been granted bail, the LiveLaw report said.

Fact-checker Zubair is in police custody since 27 June, when he was arrested by Cyber Cell of Delhi police for a 2018 tweet. the unknown complainant said it hurts religious sentiments. since then several FIRs from parts of Uttar Pradesh got registered against him with similar charges of hurting sentiments. Delhi court on 15 July had granted bail in 2018 tweet case.

Important points mentioned in Zubair’s Bail Order:

• U.P Police FIRs clubbed and transferred to Delhi
• Bail on future FIRs registered on similar charges
• SC granted Zubair liberty to approach the Delhi High Court for seeking quashing of all the FIRs.
• U.P SIT disbanded and Zubair has to be released from Tihar jail by today 6 pm
• While allowing Zubair to tweet, SC said that it can’t ask a journalist not to write

—INDIA NEWS STREAM