Alt-News co-founder Mohammed Zubair booked after complaint by Yati Narsinghanad’s aide: Police
Speaking to The Indian Express, Zubair said the Ghaziabad Police filed the FIR without any verification.
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According to police, the complaint against Zubair was filed by Udita Tyagi, general secretary of the Yati Narsinghanad Saraswati Trust, at Kavi Nagar police station at 2.19 pm. (File Photo) Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair was booked by the Ghaziabad Police Monday for allegedly promoting enmity among religious groups among other charges, following a complaint by an associate of controversial priest Yati Narsinghanad.
Narsinghanand, the priest at Dasna Devi temple, is facing multiple FIRs and protests over an alleged hate speech delivered at Hindi Bhawan in Ghaziabad on September 29. The Indian Express reported on Saturday that Narsinghanand was detained by the Uttar Pradesh police, along with his aides.
“It is unfortunate,” said Zubair. Speaking to The Indian Express, he said the Ghaziabad Police filed the FIR without any verification. “There were other journalists who reported the news but the FIR against me looks intentional,” he said.
According to police, the complaint against Zubair was filed by Udita Tyagi, general secretary of the Yati Narsinghanad Saraswati Trust, at Kavi Nagar police station at 2.19 pm.
Tyagi, in the complaint, alleged that Zubair posted a video clip of an old programme of Narsinghanand’s on October 3 to provoke violence by Muslims against him. She also claimed Zubair had posted edited clips of the priest on social media to incite more radical sentiments against him.
“He posted a series of videos on October 4 and 5, leading to an attempt to ‘attack’ the Dasna Devi temple. I was present with Yati at the temple and we barely escaped. Had the police not intervened, the situation would have gotten out of hand,” Tyagi alleged in her complaint.
She also alleged Zubair included the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, BJP MLA Nand Kishore Gurjar, and her name in his tirade, after which she reportedly got death threats on social media.
Police said the FIR against Zubair was registered under sections 196 (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion), 228 (fabricating false evidence), 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 356(3) (defamation) and 351(2) (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Meanwhile, on Monday, over 100 people gathered outside the Ghaziabad Police Commissioner’s office and submitted a memorandum demanding to know the whereabouts of Narasinghanand. The crowd also demanded action against Zubair for making remarks against him.
“We are investigating the matter,” said Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Mishra, adding that action will be taken against those provoking people on social media.
On Friday night, police had said they stepped up security around the Dasna Devi temple after a large crowd had gathered outside to protest against Narsinghanand. Police Sunday apprehended 10 people for allegedly pelting stones during the protest.
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