The fresh plea of Zubair has also challenged the constitution of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) by the Uttar Pradesh government to examine these cases. The Supreme Court directed no sensitive steps against Alt News co-founder Mohd Zubair in connection with five FIRs lodged against him in Uttar Pradesh for allegedly outraging religious feelings. The Supreme Court observed that it seems to be a “vicious cycle” where the moment Zubair gets bail in one case, there is another FIR against him.
A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and A S Bopanna said it would hear on July 20 the plea filed by Zubair, who is seeking quashing of these FIRs. The court directed that no precipitative steps shall be taken against Zubair in connection with any of the five FIRs without the leave of the court.
The bench noted that Zubair had been granted interim bail in the last ordered and gets extended till further orders by the apex court in connection with a case lodged against him in the Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh for allegedly outraging religious sentiments.
Advocate Vrinda Grover appeared for Zubair had mentioned the matter for urgent listing before a bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana.
Chief Justice N V Raman said, “Upon being mentioned by Vrinda Grover, counsel appeared for the petitioner for urgent listing of matter, we grant liberty to the petitioner to mention the matter before a bench presided over by Justice D Y Chandrachud.”
After that, Advocate Vrinda Grover mentioned the matter before the bench headed by Justice Chandrachud in the order. Justice Chandrachud-led bench noted that the subject matter of the present proceedings under Article 32 of the Constitution arises from five FIRs lodged against the petitioner. Justice Chandrchud said, “Since the petition is not on board, we direct the registry to list it on July 20.”
During the hearing, Advocate Grover said that the six FIRs had been filed against Zubair, two in Uttar Pradesh against Zubair, two in Hathras, and one in Sitapur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Muzaffarnagar and Ghaziabad. Advocate Vrinda Grover said once the apex court granted him interim bail in FIR lodged at Sitapur, a warrant in another FIR came. She also mentioned that the matter requires an urgent hearing as there is a threat to Zubair’s life.
The plea mentioned that all the FIRs filed in Uttar Pradesh that had transferred to the SIT for investigation are the subject matter of the FIR, which had been probed by the Delhi Police Special Cell.
