Court adjourns Zubair’s bail hearing in Delhi case, SC extends interim bail in UP case

Alt News cofounder Mohammed Zubair’s bail plea – linked to an FIR filed in Delhi – has been adjourned and will now be heard on July 14, while his interim bail in another case filed in Uttar Pradesh’s Sitapur has been extended till September 7.

A Supreme Court bench comprising Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna Tuesday heard Zubair’s petition against a case filed by the Sitapur police for a tweet calling three Hindu priests hatemongers.

The matter was extended after the Additional Solicitor General, appearing on behalf of the UP police, sought time to file a counter affidavit. The court granted four weeks’ time for the same and two weeks for a rejoinder later. The court extended his interim bail, which was set to expire on Wednesday, and will now hear the matter for final disposal on September 7.

Meanwhile, the Alt News cofounder’s bail plea linked to the Delhi police FIR over a tweet from four years ago was heard by a Delhi magistrate court today.

Advocate Vrinda Grover, appearing for Zubair, argued that the 2018 tweet was a screenshot of a movie from 1983 which was in the public domain. She said the screenshot was used by several Twitter users and had been published by print and digital news platforms as well.

Grover mentioned that the account on whose complaint the case was filed was made in 2021 and this was his first tweet. She said that no algorithm could have led one to the handle, but it was picked up by the Delhi Police. She said Zubair was a fact-checker and that his work involved looking at fake news and misinformation.

SSP Atul Srvastava pointed out that a similar matter was being heard by the Supreme Court today. He also said that he wasn't available on Wednesday. The next hearing was then scheduled for July 14.