By Muslim Mirror Staff

The Delhi Police on Monday arrested Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair in connection with an FIR registered under the under IPC Section 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups) and 295-A (malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings).

DCP (IFSO) K P S Malhotra said alleged that before his arrest, he was interrogated in connection with the case registered at Special Cell police station. “After having sufficient evidence on record, he was arrested,” he added.

However, Zubair’s colleague Pratik Sinha said that he was called for investigation in a 2020 case, for which he already had a protection against arrest from High Court. But he was arrested in some other FIR for which no notice was given.

After the medical examination, Zubair is being taken to an undisclosed location. Neither Zubair’s lawyers or I are being told where. We are in the police van with him. No police person is wearing any name tag.

— Pratik Sinha (@free_thinker) June 27, 2022

Solidarity messages are pouring in after reports of his arrest went viral on the internet. Several political leaders, scholars, journalists and activists have expressed their strong over the same.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that Zubair’s arrest is an assault on truth.

India’s few fact-checking services, especially @AltNews, perform a vital service in our post-truth political environment, rife with disinformation. They debunk falsehoods whoever perpetrates them. To arrest @zoo_bear is an assault on truth. He should be released immediately.

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) June 27, 2022

Rama Naga, former JNU Students’ Union general secretary, slammed the police over the same. He wrote, “If you burst Sanghi agendas and that too being a Muslim, then how can it not hurt the “sentiments” of Sanghis?”

Khaki Nikkar Delhi Police has arrested @AltNews co-founder @zoo_bear in the name of "hurting religious sentiments". If you burst Sanghi agendas and that too being a Muslim, then how can it not hurt the "sentiments" of Sanghis? #IStandWithZubair pic.twitter.com/aSJz9vx5jF

— Rama Naga (@RamaNaga_) June 27, 2022

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, The Hindu journalist Suhasini Haider shared a news report on Zubair’s arrest and remarked, “Two days after the PM invoked the Emergency as “dark days” for Indian democracy…”

Two days after the PM invoked the Emergency as "dark days" for Indian democracy… https://t.co/3EUf1fpW4Q

— Suhasini Haidar (@suhasinih) June 27, 2022

Commenting on the same, prominent television anchor Rajdeep Sirdesai said that Mohammed Zubair who had raised red flag and exposed several instances of hate speech is now accused and arrested of hate speech himself. “Even as many of those who he exposed roam freely. Chilling effect,” he added.