Alt News co-founder Zubair moves SC seeking quashing of FIR lodged in UP

Alt News co-founder Mohd Zubair on Thursday moved the Supreme Court seeking quashing of six FIR lodged against him in several districts of Uttar Pradesh.

In his fresh plea, Zubair has also sought interim bail in all six cases.

The plea of Zubair has also challenged the constitution of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) by the UP government to probe the six cases.

It said that all the six FIRs filed in UP that have been transferred to the SIT for investigation are the subject matter of the FIR which is being probed by the Delhi police special cell.

In the alternative prayer, the plea drafted by advocate Vrinda Grover, Soutik Banerjee, Devika Tulsiani, and Mannat Tipnis and filed through advocate Aakarsh Kamra, also sought clubbing of six FIRs with the FIR lodged in Delhi and has been arrested by the police.

On July 12, the Uttar Pradesh Police constituted



a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for a “transparent” and expeditious probe into cases lodged against Zubair in various districts of the state.

The SIT is headed by Inspector General (Prisons) Preetinder Singh while IG Amit Verma will be its member.

Separate FIRs have been lodged against Zubair in Sitapur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Ghaziabad, Muzaffarnagar, and Hathras districts on charges of allegedly hurting religious feelings, making sarcastic remarks on news anchors, disrespecting Hindu gods, and inflammatory posts.

The top court had till further orders granted interim bail to Zubair in a case lodged against him in the Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh for allegedly outraging religious sentiments.

The accused has sought quashing of FIR lodged in Sitapur saying no case is made out against him. His plea against the Sitapur FIR is listed for hearing on September 7 before the top court.