Mohammed Zubair, co-founder of Alt News, posted a tweet in 2018 which was “very offensive and done purposefully” and that was “enough to stir feelings of hatred among individuals.” The Delhi police informed the Delhi court. Forensic Science Laboratory in the nation’s capital was investigating the Zubair computer equipment that had been confiscated. The police claimed that the journalist may petition the lower court to get them returned after the analysis was finished.
On the basis of disclosure statements that are acceptable under Section 27 of the Indian Evidence Act, which is to be used in court, one laptop, two invoices, and one hard drive have been recovered from the residence of the accused Mohd. Zubair, while he was in police custody. The authorities added “Throughout the inquiry, Mohd. Zubair had remained uncooperative. In case he is detained or arrested by the police, he also disclosed that he had asked his family to dispose of his equipment, including his laptop and mobile phone.”
For one of his offensive tweets, Zubair was charged with violating Sections 153A (promote hostility between groups on the basis of religion, race, place of birth, or residence) and 295A (deliberate and malicious acts which intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by way of insulting its religion or religious beliefs).
The FIR stated that Mohammed Zubair “deliberately sent and published such posts through electronic media to offend the religious sensitivities of a certain community with the goal to provoke breach of peace.” As per the FIR, he had taken a screenshot from an old Hindi movie that showed a picture of a hotel with the sign for the establishment stating “Hanuman hotel” rather than “Honeymoon hotel” on it.
