Yati Narsinghanand Case: Alt News Co-Founder Mohammed Zubair Faces Charges Of Endangering Sovereignty, Integrity Of India

The Allahabad High Court was informed on Wednesday (27 November) that the charges against Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair now include Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with acts endangering the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India.

The investigating officer (IO) revealed the addition during the ongoing hearing on Zubair's plea for protection from arrest in the case where Zubair is accused of highlighting controversial remarks made by Yati Narsinghanand, a priest at Ghaziabad’s Dasna Devi Temple.

The case originates from a complaint filed by Udita Tyagi, General Secretary of the Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati Foundation, after Zubair posted on social media platform X on 3 October, referring to Narsinghanand’s comments as “derogatory and hateful.”

Narsinghanand had earlier delivered a speech on 29 September allegedly containing offensive remarks against Muhammad, whom Muslims consider their Prophet, leading to multiple FIRs against him in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Telangana for inciting communal hatred. The speech also triggered protests at the Dasna Devi Temple.

Tyagi’s complaint alleged that Zubair’s tweet incited violence against Narsinghanand and was part of a conspiracy involving AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind leader Arshad Madani to provoke unrest.

In response to the High Court's directive, the IO disclosed that Section 66 of the Information Technology Act and Section 152 of the BNS had also been added to the FIR. Section 152 specifically criminalises actions, including spoken or written words, electronic communication, or other means, that attempt to incite secession, rebellion, or activities undermining national sovereignty.

Zubair has denied the allegations, asserting in his plea that his post aimed to expose Narsinghanand’s history of inflammatory remarks, which often targeted women and political figures. The plea also cited a social media post by Tyagi, where she referred to filing the FIR as a “publicity stunt” and thanked a follower for their praise.

The journalist has argued that the charges against him are baseless and intended to silence his efforts to hold figures like Narsinghanand accountable. Zubair’s petition also highlighted that Narsinghanand has previously faced legal scrutiny for hate speech, emphasising that the complaint is a retaliatory measure rather than a genuine grievance.

The High Court has allowed the inclusion of the new charges and scheduled the next hearing for 3 December. Meanwhile, Zubair continues to seek legal protection, asserting that the FIR undermines his role as a journalist committed to exposing communal and divisive rhetoric.