Mohammed Zubair Biography: Mohammed Zubair is a prominent figure in India’s media world, particularly known for his work in fact-checking. Born on December 29, 1983, in Bangalore, Karnataka, and currently 40 years old, his career shifted from technology to founding Alt News, a fact-checking website in India. Here’s a look into his life, work, and the challenges he’s faced.
Early Life and Education
Zubair was born and raised in Bangalore, a city recognized for its educational institutions and tech industry. He grew up in a Muslim family. After completing his schooling, he attended M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology, a well-known engineering college in Bangalore. He graduated with a degree in engineering, which would later serve him in his fact-checking career.
Career in Technology
After college, Mohammed Zubair worked as a software engineer for over a decade. He was employed by Nokia, a leading tech company at the time. During his time there, he gained valuable experience in technology and digital systems, which would later prove useful in his transition to media and fact-checking.
Founding Alt News
In 2017, Zubair co-founded Alt News with Pratik Sinha, another former software engineer. Alt News was created to tackle the issue of misinformation in India, a growing problem in both social media and mainstream news.
Zubair initially worked part-time at Alt News while continuing his job at Nokia but transitioned to working full-time at Alt News in September 2018.
In December 2019, Mohammed Zubair took on a leadership role as a director of the Pravda Media Foundation, the organization that runs Alt News.
Mention in Time Magazine
In 2022, Zubair and his co-founder Pratik Sinha were recognized globally when Time magazine mentioned them as potential candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize. Although they didn’t win, the mention highlighted the impact of their work in addressing misinformation in India.
Mohammed Zubair Biography: Controversies
Zubair’s work has led to legal challenges and controversy. In 2020, Mohammed Zubair was accused of being targeted by right-wing groups, and several First Information Reports (FIRs) were filed against him.
Things got more serious in 2022 when Zubair was arrested by Delhi Police for a 2018 tweet that was said to have “insulted Hindu religious beliefs.” This arrest led to criticism from journalists, human rights groups, and political leaders, who believed it was done as payback for his work in exposing misinformation.
On June 27, 2022, Zubair was taken into custody, and the next day, the police were given more time to question him. His request for bail was denied on July 2, leading to him being placed in judicial custody. After spending 23 days in prison, there was a series of events involving more FIRs, court hearings, and, finally, relief from the Supreme Court.
In October 2024, the Ghaziabad Police filed an FIR (First Information Report) against him. The complaint was made by Dr. Udita Tyagi, an associate of Yati Narsinghanand, a controversial religious figure. Tyagi accused Zubair of promoting violence and creating religious tension through his social media posts. The charges included sections of the Indian Penal Code related to religious hatred and defamation.
Net Worth
While Mohammed Zubair’s net worth is not publicly disclosed, it is estimated to be in lakhs given his social media fame due to fact-checking efforts.
Conclusion
Mohammed Zubair’s transition from a software engineer to a fact-checker has had a notable impact on India’s media landscape. His work with Alt News, along with the legal challenges and public scrutiny he has faced, has placed him at the forefront of the fight against misinformation. Despite the controversies, he remains a key figure in fact-checking efforts in the country.
Mohammed Zubair Biography will be updated here as new details emerge.
Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information and sources believed to be reliable. This post is for informational purposes only. India At Present Info. will not be responsible for any wrong information, readers are encouraged to check the information independently.
