The Allahabad High Court on Friday granted interim protection from arrest to Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair in a case related to a social media post about Hindutva leader Yati Narsinghanand. The court observed that Zubair was not a “dreaded criminal” and provided him relief until January 6, while also directing him not to leave the country, according to Live Law.
A bench comprising Justices Siddhartha Varma and Nalin Srivastava instructed the Uttar Pradesh government to file a detailed response to Zubair’s plea for protection from arrest.
Zubair was booked on October 7 under charges of promoting enmity between religious groups after he posted a video on platform X (formerly Twitter) that showed Narsinghanand making derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad during a sermon on September 29. The post called for legal action against Narsinghanand, sparking backlash.
The Uttar Pradesh government argued in court that Zubair’s post contained “half-baked information” and claimed it endangered India’s sovereignty and integrity, accusing him of promoting separatist activities.
This case adds to the series of FIRs filed against Narsinghanand himself for hate speech targeting Muslims. However, Zubair’s legal troubles have drawn criticism from human rights organizations and press bodies, which decried the inclusion of Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita—pertaining to endangering the sovereignty and integrity of India—as a misuse of the law to suppress freedom of expression.
Zubair, known for his fact-checking and outspoken commentary on social issues, sought legal protection against the FIRs. The court’s decision on Friday provides temporary relief as the case continues.
