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Was fact-checker Zubair arrested for being evasive, uncooperative?

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Alt news’ co-founder Mohammed Zubair was arrested as he was not at all being cooperative with the police in the investigation of a case registered against him, a senior Delhi Police official said on Tuesday.

Zubair came into major limelight after he posted BJP’s now suspended spokesperson Nupur Sharma’s controversial comment on Prophet Mohammed. He was arrested on Monday for his objectionable tweets which he posted in 2018.

After his arrest, the police said he was not cooperating with the investigation. “We had served him a notice under section 41 A of the CrPc, but he was evasive and not cooperating in the investigation,” the official told IANS.

The official said that Zubair was “evasive on the questions” and neither provided the necessary technical equipment for the purpose of the investigation nor cooperated in the investigation.

“During investigation, the conduct of Mohammed Zubair was found questionable, which warranted his custodial interrogation to unravel the conspiracy in this matter,” the official added.

The section 41 A of the Code of Criminal Procedure deals with the notice of appearance before police officers.

Under this, the police officer shall, in all cases where the arrest of a person is not required, issue a notice directing the person against whom a reasonable complaint has been made, or credible information has been received, or a reasonable suspicion exists that he has committed a cognizable offence, to appear before him or at such other place as may be specified in the notice.

When such a notice is issued to any person, it shall be the duty of that person to comply with the terms of the notice. When such person complies and continues to comply with the notice, he shall not be arrested in respect of the offence referred to in the notice unless, for reasons to be recorded, the police officer is of the opinion that he ought to be arrested.

And when the person being questioned is not cooperative, the law says that if such person, at any time, fails to comply with the terms of the notice or is unwilling to identify himself, the police officer may, subject to such orders as may have been passed by a competent court in this behalf, arrest him for the offence mentioned in the notice.

The official said that the counsel for the accused Mohammed Zubair moved application for grant of bail, however, the same was heard at length and not finding the merits, the bail was ultimately declined.

The 33-year-old fact-checker is currently under police custody and is being interrogated over one of his objectionable tweets which he posted in 2018. After Zubair’s tweet, his followers on social media entities amplified and created a series of debates and hate mongering in the thread.

“He was examined in this separate case and his role was found objectionable,” the official said.

The police have charged Zubair with Indian Penal Code sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence) and 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs).

Sources told IANS that the tweet for which Zubair is being questioned is 4 years old. In the said tweet, accused Zubair had used a screengrab of an old Hindi movie which showed an image of a hotel, with its board reading ‘Hanuman hotel’ instead of ‘Honeymoon hotel’.

In his tweet, Zubair had written, “BEFORE 2014: Honeymoon Hotel. After 2014: Hanuman Hotel”.

Meanwhile, the Opposition left no chance to train guns at the present dispensation and accused them of curbing free speech and targeting those who are exposing the BJP.

“Every person exposing BJP’s hate, bigotry and lies is a threat to them. Arresting one voice of truth will only give rise to a thousand more. Truth ALWAYS triumphs over tyranny,” tweeted Rahul Gandhi soon after the news of fact-checker’s arrest broke out.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that Altnews and Zubair have been in the forefront of exposing the “bogus claims of the Vishguru”, who has struck back with a vengeance characteristic of him. “Delhi Police, reporting to the Union Home Minister, has long lost any pretensions of professionalism and independence,” he said.

Pertinent to mention here that Zubair was the first person to share former Bharatiya Janata Party leader Nupur Sharma’s alleged remarks against Prophet Mohammed during a TV debate.

The controversial statement made by Nupur Sharma set off an international furore. Several Muslim nations, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Indonesia and Iran, as well as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation officially protested their statements and demanded an apology.

Following the uproar, the Bharatiya Janata Party suspended Sharma and another leader, Naveen Kumar Jindal, who also made insulting comments against Prophet Muhammad on social media.

However, soon after her comments, Sharma was targeted on social media and received thousands of death threats following which the police provided a security cover to her.

She had lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police on May 27 alleging that she had been receiving death threats and was a target of hatred.

Crime

Mumbai Police Arrest Navi Mumbai-Based Bar Owner In ATC Personnel Theft–Extortion Case

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Mumbai: In a significant development in the alleged theft and extortion case involving RCF police Anti-Terrorism Cell (ATC) personnel, the Mumbai police have arrested Navi Mumbai-based bar owner Ramesh Shetty alias Ramesh Anna for his alleged role in the offence. His arrest follows the earlier arrest and suspension of four ATC personnel attached to the RCF police station.

Previously, API Vijay Sutar, head constable Yogesh Khandge, and police constables Nemade and More were arrested on allegations that they stole cash and gold ornaments during raids conducted to identify Bangladeshi nationals allegedly residing illegally in Navi Mumbai. The Chembur police are conducting further investigation in the case.

The case came to light after a social activist lodged a complaint, prompting an internal inquiry into the conduct of the police personnel during official raids. Investigators found that valuables allegedly seized during the raids were not recorded through any panchnama or official documentation.

 Several items were later reported missing, following which an FIR was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act. The accused police personnel were subsequently arrested and placed under suspension, a senior police officer said.

According to the police sources, the complainant, Asma Poly, a suspected Bangladeshi national, has been residing in Kopri village, Sector 26, Koparkhairane, Navi Mumbai, for the past 12 years and works at a bar in Turbhe. 

In her complaint, Asma stated that on January 2, 2026, at around 8.30 am, a woman in plain clothes along with three to four men visited her residence and demanded her identity proof. When she opened the door, the group entered her house. An agent who allegedly assists police in identifying Bangladeshi nationals was also present.

Based on their questioning, Asma said she realised they were police officials, who later disclosed their identities. She was allegedly asked to sit inside a police vehicle and was taken to the RCF police station. Asma claimed she was unaware that her house was being searched during this period.

Later, API Sutar allegedly asked her to contact her sister, Rebecca, in Bangladesh and seek her birth certificate. During a phone conversation, Rebecca allegedly informed Asma that police personnel had searched her house and that several items were missing. Asma has claimed in her police complaint that approximately 15 tolas of gold and cash amounting to Rs20–25 lakh were kept in the house and were missing after the raid.

Asma alleged that when she questioned the officers about the missing valuables, she received evasive replies. As her suspicions grew, she reportedly raised an alarm at the police station. Police sources said that fearing the matter could escalate, the accused officers allegedly called the bar owner Ramesh Anna, where Asma worked to the police station.

According to the complaint, between January 5 and 6, head constable Khandge allegedly facilitated phone conversations between Asma and bar owner Ramesh Anna, during which it was conveyed that Rs6 lakh in cash and a gold necklace had been handed over. When Asma enquired about the remaining money and gold, she was allegedly given evasive responses.

The complaint further states that on January 23, API Sutar again called Asma to the police station and told her that her remaining valuables would be returned through the bar owner. On January 24, Asma was allegedly informed that another Rs5 lakh in cash along with the remaining gold ornaments had been handed over to Ramesh Anna. She has also alleged that head constable Khandge threatened her not to disclose the incident to anyone.

Police are also examining a separate allegation involving the same police personnel in Kalyan. In that case, a woman identified as Sharmeen Khatoon Attar has alleged that on December 25, the accused officers visited her residence and allegedly extorted Rs5 lakh by threatening her with police action. Officials said this allegation is under verification and no conclusion has yet been drawn.

Based on Asma’s complaint, Mumbai police have registered a case against four police personnel and one unidentified person under relevant sections of the BNS Act. Police officials said further investigation is underway to establish the exact role of each accused, recover the missing cash and jewellery, and ascertain whether more individuals were similarly targeted during such raids.

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Crime

Mumbai Crime: Undertrial Prisoner Assaults Policeman Inside Arthur Road Jail, Case Registered

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Mumbai: A shocking incident has come to light from Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail, where an undertrial prisoner allegedly assaulted a police constable on duty.

The accused, Lokendra Uday Singh Rawat (35), is reported to have headbutted Police Constable Hani Baburao Wagh (30), causing injuries to his nose, and also abused and pushed other on-duty police personnel. A case has been registered in this connection at the N. M. Joshi Marg police station.

According to the FIR, the complainant, Police Constable Wagh, is attached to Armed Police Division–2, Tardeo. On January 27, he reported for his 24-hour day-duty shift at Arthur Road Jail at around 8 am and was assigned security duty at the main entrance of the prison.

At around 9 pm, Armed Police Constables Suresh Sandu Mali and Sachin Chavan brought undertrial Lokendra Rawat back to the jail after producing him before the Dindoshi Court. Rawat allegedly appeared agitated and, after entering the jail premises, sat near the gate and began verbally abusing the police personnel on duty.

Constable Wagh asked Rawat to calm down and refrain from using abusive language. However, Rawat allegedly became more aggressive and continued shouting abuses. When Wagh approached him again to pacify the situation, Rawat suddenly headbutted him on the nose with force.

As a result, Constable Wagh sustained injuries and started bleeding. Fellow constables Sachin Chavan and Suresh Mali immediately intervened, restrained the accused, and informed the on-duty prison authorities about the incident. Rawat was subsequently sent for medical examination to Sir J.J. Hospital.

After receiving medical treatment, the injured constable lodged a formal complaint on January 28 at the N. M. Joshi Marg police station. Based on the complaint, police have registered a case against the undertrial under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Further investigation is ongoing.

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Crime

Mumbai Crime: One Critical Among 5 Injured After Violent Group Clash Breaks Out In Nagpada, 13 Detained

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Mumbai: A violent confrontation between two groups erupted in South Mumbai’s Nagpada area late Thursday night, leaving several people injured and sparking a massive police response. Authorities have confirmed that one individual remains in critical condition following the brawl, which has once again put the spotlight on the volatile security situation in the densely populated area.

According to the Mumbai Police, the altercation broke out between two local groups over a financial dispute that escalated rapidly. What reportedly began as a verbal spat soon turned into a physical battle.

A video of the clash has surfaced on the internet shows the exact moments of the violent situation. Two men can be seen lying on the road, probably unconsious after participating in the brawl. Five to six other men can be seen weilding rods and sticks engaged in a fight, in full public view.

The violence resulted in five to six individuals sustaining serious injuries. They were rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment. Medical officials confirmed this morning that while most are stable, one victim is currently in critical condition and is battling for life in the intensive care unit.

The Nagpada Police arrived at the scene shortly after the violence peaked to disperse the crowd and restore order. Heavy police deployment remained in the area throughout the night to prevent any retaliatory attacks or further communal or localised tension.

In a swift crackdown following the incident, the Mumbai Police have detained 13 individuals suspected of involvement in the clash. The police have officially registered a case against the accused parties under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 109 and Section 191.

As of Friday morning, the situation in Nagpada is reported to be under control, though an uneasy calm prevails. Security has been beefed up at key intersections, and patrolling has been intensified.

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