Mohammed Zubair booked for alleged threat to India’s sovereignty over tweet on Yati Narsinghanand
Ghaziabad Police add s.152 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and s.66 of IT Act to the FIR against Zubair.
Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court was informed on November 27 that Mohammed Zubair, journalist and co-founder of Alt News, is now being charged with offences under s.152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and s.66 of the Information Technology Act. This follows an FIR lodged by Ghaziabad Police over Zubair’s tweet calling out Yati Narsinghanand for alleged derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad.
Zubair has approached the High Court, seeking protection from arrest. During the hearing on November 25, the Court directed the investigating officer (IO) to file an affidavit specifying the penal sections applied. The IO’s affidavit submitted today disclosed the addition of new charges to the FIR. The Court permitted the amendment and scheduled the next hearing for December 3.
Under s.152 of the BNS, actions or communications that incite secession, rebellion, or activities endangering India's unity and sovereignty can lead to life imprisonment or up to seven years of imprisonment along with a fine.
The FIR against Zubair was based on a complaint by Udita Tyagi, General Secretary of the Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati Foundation. Tyagi accused Zubair of inciting violence by sharing an old video clip of Narsinghanand on October 3.
The complaint emerged after Zubair highlighted a public speech made by Narsinghanand on September 29, allegedly containing hate speech against Prophet Muhammad. Zubair referred to the speech as "derogatory and hateful" in his tweet.
While FIRs were registered against Narsinghanand across states, including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Telangana, for inciting communal hatred, his supporters accused Zubair, Arshad Madani, and Asaduddin Owaisi of provoking protests at Ghaziabad’s Dasna Devi Temple.
In his plea, Zubair alleged that the FIR against him is a malicious attempt to deter him from exposing Narsinghanand’s communal and derogatory remarks. He also pointed out that Tyagi had referred to the FIR as a "publicity stunt" in a social media post.
Further developments are awaited as the High Court will hear the matter next on December 3.
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Waqf Bill anti-secular, will snatch rights of Muslims: Mamata Banerjee
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday described the Waqf (Amendment) Bill as “anti-secular”, claiming that it would snatch the rights of Muslims.
Banerjee, speaking in the assembly, also said the Centre did not consult with states over the matter.
“The bill is anti-federal and anti-secular; it is a deliberate attempt to malign a particular section. It will snatch the rights of Muslims... The Centre did not consult with us on the Waqf Bill,” she said.
The chief minister added that “if any religion was attacked”, she would wholeheartedly condemn it.
Opposition parties have stridently criticised the amendments proposed by the bill in the existing Waqf Act, alleging that they violate the religious rights of Muslims.
The ruling BJP has asserted that the amendments will bring transparency in the functioning of the Waqf boards and make them accountable.
A parliamentary committee has been constituted to scrutinise the contentious bill.
