Fact-checker Mohammed Zubair has requested the Supreme Court to cancel six cases filed against him by the Uttar Pradesh Police. He has also sought that the Special Investigation Team formed to probe the cases be called off. Three of these cases have been filed in Lakhimpur Kheri, Hathras and Sitapur over a tweet in which he called some right wing leaders "hate mongers". Mr Zubair's team is hoping for an early hearing.
On Tuesday, the top court had extended his interim bail in a case registered at Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh, which accused him of hurting religious sentiments. The co-founder of fact-checking website Alt News had told the Supreme Court he was receiving death threats.
The relief, however, was not extended to the other cases filed against him in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. He is still in jail.
The same day, the Uttar Pradesh Police formed a Special Investigation Team to probe multiple cases against him. The SIT has been asked to conduct a speedy probe and submit a charge sheet.
Mohammed Zubair was arrested on June 27 by the Delhi Police over a four-year-old tweet that carried a screenshot from a popular Hindi movie released in 1983.
The arrest came days after he had flagged a video of suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma's provocative remarks on Prophet Mohammed on a TV show.
During Tuesday's hearing, a bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna had granted four weeks to the Uttar Pradesh government to file a response on Mohammed Zubair's plea. The matter will be heard next on September 7.
Supreme Court Calls Pension To Retired High Court Judges "Pitiable" "Synopsis Can't Run Into 128 Pages": Supreme Court Flags Lengthy Pleadings "If Anything Happens...": Supreme Court Orders Medical Aid For Farmer On Fast World Leaders On Speed-Dial: How Elon Musk Is Causing Geopolitical Tremors US Fed Cuts Key Interest Rate By 0.25%, Sending Stocks Tumbling Naval Personnel Among 13 Killed As Navy Boat Collides With Ferry Near Mumbai Google Maps Captures Man Loading Body Into Car Boot, Suspects Arrested This US Airline Announces Unlimited Flight Pass For Just $299 A Year 5 Terrorists Killed In Encounter With Security Forces In J&K's Kulgam Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.