Co-Founder of Alt News Mohammed Zubair was denied bail by a Delhi Court today. The journalist was recently picked by Delhi Police for allegedly hurting religious sentiments and promoting enmity through his tweet made in 2018.
At around 7 PM, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Patiala House Court Snigdha Sarvaria pronounced the order. Zubair was remanded 14-day judicial custody.
Hours before the court pronounced its order, certain media outlets had reported that the bail has been denied to him. However, Zubair’s lawyer Advocate Soutik Banerjee raised an objection that the Delhi Police had leaked the order to the media before it was actually pronounced by the Court.
Later, Delhi Police DCP KPS Malhotra clarified that he informed media incorrectly about the bail order.
After expiry of his 4-day police custody, Zubair was produced before the Patiala House Court.
While seeking 14-day Judicial Custody for Zubair, Special Public Prosecutor Atul Srivastava appearing for Delhi Police had informed the the Court that charges under Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) of Indian Penal Code and Section 35 of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act have been added against Zubair. According to reports, the Police has alleged that Zubair received donations from Pakistan and Syria and thus, the matter requires further investigation.
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