Following Mohammed Zubair’s plea regarding an allegedly offensive tweet from 2020, the Delhi Police informed the Delhi High Court that no case has been filed against the individual who labeled Zubair as a “jihadi.”
The tweet in question, posted by Jagdish Singh, accused Zubair of cyber sexual harassment of his granddaughter. However, the police found no incriminating evidence against Singh, stating that his comment, “Once a jihadi is always jihadi,” did not incite fear or alarm among the public.
Zubair’s plea stemmed from a tweet questioning a user’s propriety in using derogatory language online while displaying a profile picture with his granddaughter. Zubair’s tweet, which blurred the minor’s face, led to an FIR against him under various acts including the POCSO Act and the Information Technology Act.
The status report was filed in Zubair’s plea against the FIR under the POCSO Act, in which he was already cleared.
“The captioned tweet by the complainant Mr. Jagdish Singh and his examination in this regard has revealed that the tweet on 18.04.2020 does not cause fear or alarm to the public or any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against any state or public tranquility,” stated the Delhi Police.
The status report added: “Because of the above, no case has been registered concerning the captioned tweet against the complainant i.e. Mr. Jagdish Singh.”
This response came after the Delhi Police faced criticism from the court last year for not taking action against the individual.
The case revolved around a tweet by Zubair, sharing the profile picture of a user and questioning the appropriateness of using derogatory language while displaying a picture with his granddaughter. Zubair had blurred the minor girl’s face in his tweet.
In the FIR filed in Delhi, offenses under the POCSO Act, Section 509B of IPC, Sections 67 and 67A of the Information Technology Act were invoked against Zubair.
However, the Delhi Police found no criminality in Zubair’s tweet and granted him interim protection from arrest in September 2020. The court directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Cyber Cell to provide a status report on the investigation, while also instructing Twitter India to expedite the request filed by the Cyber Cell.
