[Mohd Zubair Hatemonger Tweet Case] Proceedings in Delhi High Court not to be influenced by Allahabad HC order, Supreme Court clarifies

The Supreme Court today clarified that the Hatemonger tweet case registered against fact-checker and co-founder of Alt News Mohammad Zubair shall be heard by the Delhi High Cout without being influenced by the Allahabad High Court’s order denying to quash the First Information Report (FIR) lodged against him.

On July 20th, the Supreme Court had granted interim bail to Mohammed Zubair in FIRs registered by Uttar Pradesh Police for allegedly hurting religious sentiments, fanning communal hate through inflammatory publications on microblogging website twitter & for disrespecting Hindu Gods.

Court had further ordered that all FIRs against him from UP shall be clubbed & transferred to Delhi Police Special Cell, which is already investigating a case against him.

When the matter was taken up today, Zubair's counsel Vrinda Grover informed the court that nothing was left in the matter as all the FIRs were transferred to Delhi. However, she requested Court to pass a direction stating that the High Court may not be influenced by the impugned order passed by the Allahabad High Court.

Hearing this, Justice Chandrachud asked AAG Garima Parshad whether the order transferring all FIRs was complied with.

The AAG then directed the Court's attention to a communication dated September 5th, 2022 of the Uttar Pradesh Government stating that the case diary pertaining to all FIRs have been sent over to the Special Cell, Delhi.

Accordingly, the bench ordered thus,

"With regard to the Sitapur Hatemonger Tweet case, the plea shall be heard by Delhi High Court without being influenced by the Allahabad High Court order."

On July 18, the Supreme Court bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna directed the Uttar Pradesh Police, to not take any precipitative steps against Mohammed Zubair in any of the five FIRs without its permission till the next date of hearing.

The court was hearing a plea filed by Co-Founder of the AltNews, Mohammad Zubair seeking direction to quash six FIRs filed against him in the State of Uttar Pradesh in connection with his tweets. The FIRs have been lodged at Lakhimpur Kheri, Sitapur, Muzaffarnagar, Ghaziabad, and two at Hathras over his allegedly 'controversial' tweets.

The Top Court had also asked Zubair not to post any further tweets or tamper with evidence. Moreover, it had also clarified that its order pertains only to the Sitapur case and not any other case. A local court in Sitapur had rejected Zubair's bail plea in this case.

Case Title: MOHAMMED ZUBAIR Vs. STATE OF UP & ORS