The Allahabad High Court has granted bail to a man accused of uploading anti-India, anti-Modi, and pro-Pakistan posts on social media, observing that pre-trial detention cannot be indefinite. The order was passed on May 25 by a bench of Justice Rajiv Lochan Shukla while allowing the bail plea of Tahir Mewati, a resident of Bulandshahr district.
Court's Observation
While hearing the bail plea, the High Court noted: "The charge against the applicant is grave. However, it cannot denude him of his rights guaranteed under Article 21 (right to life and personal liberty) of the Constitution. The applicant's pre-trial detention cannot be indefinite. Hence, taking into account all the facts and circumstances of the case, prima facie, a case for bail is made out."
Case Background
An FIR was registered against Mewati at Salempur police station in Bulandshahr under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. This was his second bail application after an earlier plea was rejected by another bench of the High Court on July 28, 2025.
The counsel for the accused submitted that Mewati has been falsely implicated and has been languishing in jail since May 14, 2025. According to the prosecution, Mewati allegedly operated a Facebook account that was used to upload visuals and captions purportedly defaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi and promoting pro-Pakistan views.
Prosecution's Claims
The prosecution claimed that digital evidence linked Mewati to the account, including the recovery of a mobile phone allegedly used to operate the profile, IP address logs traced to his residence, connected email IDs and phone numbers, along with metadata and login timestamps.
However, Mewati's counsel contended that the Facebook account was fake and had been created by someone else to malign his reputation. The court, after considering all submissions, granted bail, emphasizing the fundamental right to liberty under Article 21.
