India's Supreme Court today (July 20, 2022) granted interim bail to fact-checking portal Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair in all six FIRs registered against him in Uttar Pradesh state – for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through tweets – and ordered his release by this evening.

The court has transferred all the cases against Zubair that arise from his tweets to the Special Cell of the Delhi Police, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

A bench led by Justice D Y Chandrachud observed there is "no justification" to keep Zubair in continued custody any further and subject him to diverse proceedings especially after a Delhi court granted him bail in an FIR registered by Delhi Police.

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The top court also ordered that a special investigation team (SIT) set up by the UP government be disbanded.

The court said Zubair will be released on interim bail by presenting a bail bond of Rs 20,000 before the chief metropolitan magistrate's court at Patiala House in New Delhi.

The top court bench said it was of the view that the power of arrest should be used sparingly.

Zubair was arrested on June 27 by Delhi Police over his tweet posted in 2018 that allegedly hurt religious sentiments