The Supreme Court, on Friday, heard Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair's petition challenging the Allahabad High Court's refusal to quash a first information report (FIR) against him in Uttar Pradesh.
In a massive development, Justice Banerjee has said that the Court will grant limited interim bail on condition that he will not move out of the jurisdiction of the court and will not post further tweets.
Zubair was accused of 'suppressing information' on the case by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.
Advocate Colin Gonsalves, who is appearing for Zubair said, "When I say hatemongers... I am not wrong. Police have arrested them. And once out, again indulging in hate speech. Why need to recover my mobile from Bangalore. I have admitted to this tweet. What is the investigation needed for? And that's why I have come to SC seeking quashing of the case."
"These hate mongers made remarks on Constitution, Judges. I exposed this kind of venomous language against judges, the Constitution. I am in jail for this. Here I am defending the constitution," he added.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who is representing the UP government, argued, "The question is not about a single tweet. Whether there is a syndicate behind...which is regularly posting such tweets with the intention to destabilize the country."
"There are many facts suppressed including the arrest by the Delhi police. The money angle... Whether donations from countries inimical to India have been received by them is under investigation," he said adding that the Delhi High Court had refused interim relief to Zubair and granted remand.
(This is a developing story...)
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