What action have you taken against man who made hate speech against Mohammed Zubair? Delhi High Court to Delhi Police

The Delhi High Court Friday pulled up the Delhi Police for its failure to take any action against one Jagdish Singh who allegedly made a hate speech against Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair. .Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani said that the Court would not be doing its duty if no action is taken against Singh for making hate speech against Zubair."You went hammer and tongs against him (Zubair). But the case has now ended in a whimper as it should have because there was no evidence against him. But what action have you taken against this man (Singh)," the Court asked Delhi Police's counsel..The Court made the observations while hearing a petition by Zubair seeking quashing of the FIR registered against him. The incident dates back to 2020 when Zubair in his tweet, had called out Singh for being a troll and retweeted his display picture which featured his daughter but after pixelating/ blurring the daughter's image.The tweet read,“Hello Jagdish Singh. Does your cute grand daughter know about your part time job of abusing people on social media? I suggest you to change your profile pic.”Subsequently, Zubair was booked by the Delhi Police which invoked the provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offices (POCSO) Act as well as sections of the Information Technology Act and the Indian Penal code for allegedly "threatening and torturing" a minor girl on Twitter.This prompted Zubair to approach the High Court to quash the case.The Delhi Police later filed an affidavit before the High Court saying it has not named Zubair in the chargesheet because it did not find any criminality against him..During the hearing of the matter today, Additional Standing Counsel (ASC) appearing for the Delhi Police told the Court that the chargesheet has been filed in the case and Zubair is not named in it. Therefore, a quietus can be put to the issue, the counsel said. However, Justice Bhambhani responded that the Supreme Court has repeatedly called for strict action against hate speeches and has said that even if there is no complaint, police must register a suo motu case."How can we put a quietus to the issue without complying with the Supreme Court's directions... Supreme Court's words are our command. How can we let it go like that," the Court remarked.It added, "The matter has to be taken with seriousness. I cannot let it go like this without compliance of the Supreme Court's orders. Tell me what steps you (Delhi Police) have taken." .Meanwhile, counsel appearing for the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) said that the prayer made by Zubair in his petition are preposterous. Senior Advocate Sanjoy Ghose, who appeared for Zubair, responded that the NCPCR's submissions were preposterous and that it is a statutory body which has been weaponised. .Justice Bhambhani then directed Delhi Police to file a status report in the case and explain what steps it has taken against Singh. Delhi Police's counsel assured the Court that Supreme Court's directions on hate speech will be complied with. .As the Court listed the case for further consideration on the next date, Ghose asked the matter to be kept as part-heard. However, Justice Bhambhani said that he will not do it at this stage. The case will now be considered on September 14, 2023.