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Synopsis

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has opposed the plea moved by Alt News's Co-founder Mohammed Zubair before the Delhi High Court seeking direction to quash FIR registered against him for allegedly torturing and harassing a minor girl on Twitter.

In its affidavit, the NCPCR has told the high court that the Delhi Police's statement that no cognizable offense is made out against Md. Zubair indicates their "casual attitude" as Zubair neither deleted tweets about the minor girl nor informed the concerned authorities about users indulging in sexual harassment of the girl.

Retweeting the photograph of a minor girl contributed to the disclosure of her identity due to which she was exposed to sexual harassment online, the NCPCR has contended.

"The retweeting of the picture of the minor girl on Petitioner's Twitter account exposed her to harassment on a big social media platform like Twitter wherein lewd and disgraceful comments were published about her by Twitter users," the affidavit reads. 

It further states that the information given in the status report by Delhi Police clearly shows that Zubair was trying to evade investigation & not cooperating. It was evident that his Mala fide intention was to conceal the fact, it reads.

Moreover, the affidavit states that according to the Kalandra issued by Patiala House Courts on August 9, 2020, against Zubair in terms of section 175 CRPC, it was alleged that the Alt News Co-Founder was "harassing, threatening and stalking a minor and had also tweeted indecent and disgraceful comment on the tweet" by sharing her photograph.

The affidavit also draws the attention of the Court towards the inaction on Zubair's part, when a series of lewd and disgraceful comments were getting posted on Zubair's tweet. It submits that even after knowing the fact that there were several comments being made on his post against the minor girl which were indecent and sexual in nature, Zubair neither tried to delete the tweet nor informed the concerned authorities about the users who had indulged in violating the rights of the minor girl.

Through this affidavit, NCPCR has sought direction to the Delhi Police to conduct a thorough investigation in this case and complete the same on priority.

Case Title: Mohammed Zubair Vs. State of GNCT & Ors.