Zubair gets relief as SC orders no further action in UP FIRs, expresses worry over ‘vicious cycle’ of arrests

In a big relief for Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair, the Supreme Court on Monday protected him from any precipitative action in relation to any of the five FIRs filed against him in Uttar Pradesh.

The top court pronounced the order while hearing Mohammed Zubair’s plea seeking to quash all FIRs lodged against him in UP for hurting religious sentiments.

The SC fixed the date for hearing Zubair’s case in detail on July 20. In a big relief to Mohammed Zubair, the apex court expressed concerns over the slew of FIRs registered against him and said that filing of back-to-back FIRs against Zubair is troublesome. The court also issued a notice on Mohd Zubair’s plea and directed the apex court registry to list it on July 20.

Calling it a ‘vicious cycle’, a bench of Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice AS Bopanna orally observed that, what seems to be happening is, that new FIRs are being filed or Zubair is being produced in FIRs, the moment he is getting bail.

The bench orally observed that it would like to examine the FIRs themselves.

The order was passed by the bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and A S Bopanna after the matter was taken up for hearing upon being mentioned by advocate Vrinda Grover, who represented Zubair.

The SC said, “Mohammed Zubair was granted bail in connection with the FIR filed against him in Sitapur and later also got relief in Delhi. During the same time, another FIR was registered against him.

“In the meantime, we direct that no precipitative steps shall be taken against the petitioner in connection with these five FIRs.,” the bench said.

COURT HEARS MATTER AFTER URGENT LISTING
The court today heard the matter after the case was mentioned for urgent listing by Advocate Vrinda Grover before a bench headed by the Chief Justice of India NV Ramana.

The CJI, while directing the case to be listed before Justice Chandrachud’s bench, who had earlier heard a case pertaining to the FIR filed against Zubair in Sitapur, had allowed Grover to mention the case before Justice Chandrachud’s bench.

On Grover’s request, the bench at the outset observed that the matter could be heard tomorrow, 19th July, first thing in the morning. After Grover alleged threat to Zubair’s life and urged the court to direct the Hathras CJM to not take any action against him in the meantime, the court decided to hear the case today itself, to the limited extent of an interim relief.

Grover urged the court to grant interim bail to Zubair, till the court decides to hear his matter.

ABUSE OF PROCESS OF LAW, SAYS LAWYER
Calling it an abuse of process of law, Grover submitted that the status report filed by Delhi police special cell has expanded the subject matter of investigation, and all tweets have been listed have now become subject of different FIRs across the country.

She took the court through social media posts through which money was allegedly offered to people to file cases against Zubair.

‘Is this how criminal law machinery will be activated against a journalist who you may not agree with?’ Grover remarked.

She added that direct threats for him to be killed have been made, and no action has been taken by UP Police on any of these Twitter handles.