Gareeb Nawaz Masjid Demolition: Allahabad HC Refuses To Quash FIR Against Mosque Committee Secretary Over 'The Wire' Report

The FIR in question was registered against them & news portal, The Wire and its two journalists, who are associated with the Portal for their report on the alleged Gareeb Nawaz Mosque illegal demolition (Ramsanehighat, Barabanki) issue in Uttar Pradesh.

The Bench of Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Narendra Kumar Johari said that it would remain open for the petitioners to file a pre-arrest bail in the matter and that Court cannot quash the criminal proceedings.

The FIR names Mohammad Anees, secretary of the mosque committee, and Mohammad Naeem, one of the local residents, as in the video, The Wire journalists were seen speaking to them. The FIR had been lodged on the basis of a complaint lodged on a complaint filed by Mahendra Singh.

Uttar Pradesh Police Register FIR Against The Wire, 2 Journalists For Their Report On Gareeb Nawaz Mosque Demolition

The FIR alleges that the Journalists, intentionally, to spread 'animosity in society' and 'disturb communal harmony, uploaded the video on Twitter regarding the legal demolition of an 'illegal building" (mosque).

During the course of the hearing, the Counsel for the applicants submitted that charges under 153A (sedition) and other connected charges were unsustainable.