High Court issues notice to Delhi Police on Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair’s plea against police remand

NEW DELHI

The Delhi High Court on Friday granted two weeks to Delhi police to respond to Alt-news co-founder Mohammed Zubair’s plea challenging his police remand in a case related to an objectionable tweet he had posted in 2018 against a Hindu deity. The four-day remand of Mr. Zubair ends on Saturday.

Justice Sanjeev Narula posted Mr. Zubair’s petition, which challenges a trial court’s June 28 order granting four days of custody to the police, for further hearing on July 27.

In the meantime, Justice Narula also made it clear that the proceedings before the trial court will continue without being influenced by the proceedings before the high court.

On Tuesday, a local court extended by four days the custodial interrogation of Mr. Zubair in the case after the Delhi police said he did not cooperate with the investigating agency. Mr. Zubair was produced before the court on the expiry of his one-day custodial interrogation.

Mr. Zubair was arrested on Monday for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through one of his tweets.

During the hearing, advocate Vrinda Grover, representing Mr. Zubair, argued that the remand order was not only passed “mechanically” but also invaded his privacy.

Ms. Grover contended that the remand order has allowed the investigating agency to seize his laptop when the tweet was made from a phone. The police cannot hold a fishing and roving enquiry, advocate Ms. Grover said.