MIM leader booked for hate speeches, faces arrest

Hyderabad : Andhra Pradesh Police Thursday booked Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) legislator Akbaruddin Owaisi for his alleged hate speeches.

Two separate cases were booked by police in Hyderabad and at Nirmal town in Adilabad district under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Akbar, as the young leader is popularly known here, has been booked under Section 121 (Waging or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against the Government of India) and Section 153(A) (creating enmity between different communities).

The 42-year-old leader is away in London for treatment and faces arrest for the provocative speeches, which evoked all-round condemnation from political parties.

State police chief V. Dinesh Reddy said if necessary the police would seek Interpol’s help to trace Akbar.

“He will be called to be questioned. We will wait for his return and if he doesn’t return at an early date, through Interpol he may have to be called back,” he told reporters.

The director general of police said since Akbar’s speeches were in Urdu, police were arranging for their translation to gather evidence. “There is prima facie evidence but you need concrete evidence to proceed further. We are seeking legal advice,” he added.

Addressing public meetings in Nizamabad and Adilabad districts last month, the MIM legislator had made certain remarks challenging a particular community for “test of strength”. The controversial speeches were widely circulated over internet and a few individuals moved the court, seeking action against him.

Adilabad’s superintendent of police Thursday evening served notice on Akbar, directing him to appear before police immediately after returning from London.

Police in Hyderabad also registered a separate case after a city court issued directions to police on a petition filed by an individual.

Another court adjourned to Jan 7 hearing on another petition filed by a lawyer, seeking action against the legislator. The MIM leader has also filed a memo, pleading that the court hear him before passing the orders.

Akbar is the MIM legislator and party leader in Andhra Pradesh assembly. He is the younger brother of MIM chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi.

Asaduddin Owaisi told reporters that his party would abide by the court orders on the issue. He declined to comment further, saying the matter is before the court.

The fourth additional chief metropolitan magistrate court directed Osmania University police station to register a case against Akbar. The court passed the orders on a petition filed by Venkatesh Goud, a resident of Osmania University area.

The seventh additional chief metropolitan magistrate court adjourned hearing on a petition by Kashimshetty Karuna Sagar, an advocate.

The petitioner asked the court to file a case against Owaisi under Section 295A (for deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and sSction 153A.

The petitioner also alleged that he had been getting threatening calls for filing the complaint against the MIM legislator.

Social activist Shabnam Hashmi has also lodged a complaint at Parliament Street police station in New Delhi against the MIM leader for allegedly making derogatory remarks about a particular community.

The alleged hate speeches triggered a political storm with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) questioning the delay on the part of the Congress government in taking action against Akbar. Senior BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu wondered why no action was taken till the national media took note of the speeches and some individuals moved the courts.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy told reporters here Thursday that the law would take its own course in Akbar’s case. He said the government had no role in the matter and it was for police to take action as per the law.

The MIM leader, whose party snapped ties with the ruling Congress in November last year, was addressing public meetings aimed at what was called exposing communal attitude of Kiran Kumar Reddy’s Congress government.

Akbar’s speeches evoked strong condemnation from all political parties. The main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Communist Party of India (CPI) said the MIM leader’s speeches were highly objectionable.