An FIR has been registered against Mohammed Zubair, co-founder and editor of Alt News, by the Ghaziabad police in Uttar Pradesh, over his tweets regarding far-right Hindu priest Yati Narsinghanand. The complaint was lodged by BJP leader Dr. Udita Tyagi on October 7, following a violent incident on October 5, where a mob attempted to attack the Shiv Shakti Dham temple in Dasna. The attack reportedly followed the viral spread of a video shared by Zubair, reported The Times of India.
Zubair has been charged under multiple sections of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Sections 196, 228, 299, 356(3), and 351(2). Additionally, AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, as well as Muslim leader Maulana Arshad Madani, have been named in the FIR.
According to Dr. Tyagi’s complaint, the temple attack was part of a premeditated conspiracy, orchestrated to target the Shiv Shakti Dham. She further accused Zubair, Owaisi, Madani, and other Muslim leaders of inciting violence and provoking the public to harm Narsinghanand. Tyagi called on the authorities to identify and take action against those responsible for ‘fueling communal tensions,’ and also demanded heightened security for Yati Narsinghanand.
The Ghaziabad police also registered a separate FIR against Yati Narsinghanand, head priest of the Dasna temple, for making inflammatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. During a recent event, Narsinghanand suggested burning effigies of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in place of Ravana, sparking outrage within the Muslim community. FIRs were filed in both Ghaziabad and Hyderabad over his blasphemous statements.
Despite being detained, Narsinghanand has not yet been arrested. Investigations into both cases continue.
Supporters of Zubair argue that he has merely highlighted the spread of hate speech and has worked to expose disinformation. They believe this FIR is an attempt to silence critical voices that seek to hold communal actors accountable.
