Zubair admitted to receiving money for tweets: UP govt tells SC

New Delhi, July 20: Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair admitted to receiving money for the tweets he posted on his Twitter handle, the Uttar Pradesh government has informed the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Advocate Garima Prasad, appearing for the UP government told the bench that Zubair admitted he got Rs 12 lakh for posting one tweet, and Rs 2 crore for another."

The top court was hearing Zubair's petition challenging the multiple FIRs registered against him for allegedly outraging religious sentiments.

The fresh plea of Zubair has challenged the constitution of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) by the UP government to probe the six cases.

The plea said all the six FIRs filed in UP that have been transferred to the SIT for investigation are the subject matter of the FIR which is being probed by the Delhi Police Special Cell.

Zubair was arrested on June 27 by Delhi Police for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through one of his tweets. Earlier in June, a case against him was registered under sections 153A and 295A of IPC, according to KPS Malhotra, Deputy Commissioner of Police of Cyber Cell.

A magisterial court had on July 2 dismissed Zubair's bail plea and sent him to 14-day judicial custody (JC) in the case, citing the nature and gravity of the offences against the accused and observing that the matter was at an initial stage of investigation. The court had sent him to JC after his five day custodial interrogation.

The case in Delhi is one of the many registered against Zubair. Cases are also filed against him in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur, Lakhimpur Kheri, and Hathras.

In the Sitapur case, the Supreme Court on last Tuesday extended Zubair's interim bail till further orders. However, the bail would have no bearing on other casess. The court further clarified that it was not staying the investigation.