Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair arrested for ‘hurting religious sentiments’

Journalist and Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair was arrested by the Delhi Police on Monday evening on charges of hurting religious sentiments under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

A senior officer of the Delhi Police said Zubair is being produced before the magistrate for seeking further police remand for the purpose of the investigation of the case.

“Today, during the course of investigation of a case registered at PS-Special Cell u/s 153A/295A IPC, alleged Mohammed Zubair was joined in the investigation of the case and after having sufficient evidence on record, he was arrested in the present case,” said DCP Special Cell KPS Malhotra.

Another officer said the journalist was evasive on questions and neither provided the necessary technical equipment for the purpose of the investigation nor cooperated in the investigation. He added during investigation, Zubair’s conduct was found questionable, which warranted his custodial interrogation to unravel conspiracy in this matter.

However, Pratik Sinha, co-founder of Alt News, shared a tweet, saying Zubair was called by the special cell, Delhi, for investigation in a 2020 case for which he already had a protection from the high court.

“However, around 6.45pm, we were told he has been arrested in some other FIR for which no notice was given which mandatory under law for the Sections under which he has been arrested,” he said. Pratik further said no copy of FIR was given to them despite repeated requests.