The Uttar Pradesh police have intensified legal action against Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair, incorporating charges under a law addressing threats to India’s sovereignty, unity, and integrity. The charges, which fall under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), were revealed to the Allahabad High Court on 27 November, according to court documents.
Zubair, a prominent fact-checker, is accused of sharing an older video featuring Yati Narsinghanand, a controversial Hindu priest, allegedly with the intent of provoking violence against him. The case stems from a complaint filed by Udita Tyagi, general secretary of the Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati Foundation. Tyagi claimed that Zubair’s social media post endangered Narsinghanand’s safety by inciting anger among Muslims. The video in question highlighted derogatory comments Narsinghanand made against Prophet Muhammad, which were widely circulated online, sparking protests in Uttar Pradesh.
Narsinghanand’s statements, made during a public event in Ghaziabad on 29 September, called for burning effigies of the Prophet Muhammad. The remarks drew widespread condemnation and triggered demonstrations demanding legal action against him. Notably, Narsinghanand was already out on bail in a separate hate speech case, with conditions prohibiting him from making communal remarks.
Zubair has rejected the accusations, maintaining that his intent was to alert authorities to Narsinghanand’s inflammatory rhetoric. In his writ petition to the Allahabad High Court, Zubair argued that sharing public domain videos to demand accountability could not be equated with defamation or incitement. He further emphasized that his actions sought to counter hate speech, not provoke violence.
The Ghaziabad police have expanded the FIR against Zubair to include Section 66 of the IT Act, alongside existing allegations of promoting enmity, outraging religious feelings, and criminal intimidation. This marks yet another episode in the mounting legal challenges faced by Zubair, who was previously arrested in 2022 for a 2018 social media post, a case that garnered significant international scrutiny.
Alt News, the platform Zubair co-founded, expressed unwavering support for him. In a statement, the organization said, “This affidavit is yet another example of how state machinery is being used to intimidate individuals and organisations committed to exposing hate and misinformation. Alt News remains steadfast in our mission to uphold truth and accountability in public discourse.”
The court has scheduled the next hearing for 3 December.
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