Fact Checker Mohammed Zubair

Delhi Police has added fresh charges against the co-founder of fact-checking site Alt News, Mohammad Zubair, who was arrested in 2018 in a case related to an alleged objectionable tweet.

Delhi Police mentioned fresh charges of criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence while presenting the fact checker in Patiala House Court.

The news charges have been clubbed with FCRA or Section 35 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act.

FCRA on Fact Checker Mohammed Zubair

Delhi Police told the Patiala House Court, “Allegations of criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence have been added to the FIR with Section 35 of the FCRA.”

With criminal conspiracy in the FIR, the Enforcement Directorate may step in for a money laundering probe.

The court has reserved its order on the bail plea of ​​Alt News journalist and the police’s application seeking his 14-day judicial custody.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Snigdha Sarwaria is likely to pass orders on both the applications later in the day.

Mohammad Zubair was arrested by the Delhi Police on June 27 for hurting religious sentiments through one of his tweets and was remanded to one-day police custody by the trial court on the same day.

Mr Zubair was arrested days after he flagged off a video of suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma’s remarks against Prophet Mohammad in a TV show.

Police said the case has been registered on the complaint of a Twitter user who accused them of hurting religious sentiments.

Meanwhile, Alt News co-founder Mohammad Zubair on Saturday questioned the credibility of the complainant against him after he was accused of hurting religious sentiments through a 2018 tweet.

Who is this Twitter handle (user) ‘Hanuman Bhakt? asked Fact Checker Mohammed Zubair

During the hearing of his bail plea for the second time in a week- “Who is this Twitter handle (user) ‘Hanuman Bhakt'” in a Delhi court?

Does he want to create communal disharmony or discord in the country?” Zubair’s lawyer – Vrinda Grover asked during the hearing.

“All the tweets in question are already on social media.

The film I am referring to is not banned and has not done anything wrong for the last 40 years.

Nothing could be a more shameless and open case of malice than this.

Zubair had recently flagged Nupur Sharma’s remarks on Prophet Mohammad, which had created a huge controversy both in the country and outside.

Sharma was later suspended by the BJP as its spokesperson. On Friday, he received a sharp rebuke from the Supreme Court over his comments.