By Team Clarion
HYDERABAD — Freelance journalist Hassan Moiuddin Siddiqui was granted bail on Monday after spending several months in custody over a social media post he allegedly reshared concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Hyderabad-based Siddiqui was arrested by the Punjab Police in April in connection with a post originally shared by academician Madhu Kishwar. The post allegedly suggested that a man receiving a facial massage in a video was Modi. It also claimed that US intelligence agencies owned compromising videos involving the prime minister.
The case was registered at Chandigarh’s Sector 26 Police Station under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act.
Earlier Bail Pleas Rejected
Siddiqui had previously sought bail several times, but his applications were rejected. As recently as the end of July, a Chandigarh court declined to release him, holding that the allegations were serious and that his release could potentially affect public order.
The police had argued that the material reshared by Siddiqui was provocative and could disturb communal harmony and public peace. Investigators also relied on a technical examination which, according to the prosecution, connected the social media account and mobile number used to share the post with Siddiqui.
The court had also observed that the filing of a chargesheet, by itself, did not amount to a new circumstance warranting bail. It said this was particularly relevant given the nature of the allegations and the claim that the material could have an impact on public peace.
Siddiqui has been in custody for months.
His arrest and prolonged detention have drawn attention because the case centres on the alleged resharing of content on social media. The allegations against him, however, remain to be adjudicated by the court.
The latest bail order allows Siddiqui to be released from custody, subject to the conditions imposed by the court.
This story was originally published in clarionindia.net.
