Akbar Owaisi slapped with yet another case

Hyderabad, Jan 4 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Police Friday registered a third case against Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) leader Akbaruddin Owaisi for his alleged hate speeches while another court directed police to book the legislator, who is away in London.

A case under Indian Penal Code Section 153 (A) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, language and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) was registered at Osmania University police station Friday. Police took the action on the directions of a city court.

The court, acting on a petition by an individual, Thursday directed police to book Akbar, as he is popularly called. Another court in Hyderabad adjourned to Jan 7 the hearing of petition by an advocate, seeking action against Akbar.

Meanwhile, a court in Ranga Reddy district, adjacent to Hyderabad, Friday directed L.B. Nagar police station in the district to register a case against Akbar under various sections of the IPC. The court order came on the petition by advocate Janardhan.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has urged Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan to take action against Akbar for allegedly insulting Hindu religion and traditions. A delegation of BJP leaders, headed by the party’s state chief G. Kishan Reddy, called on the governor and demanded action against Akbar.

The BJP delegation complained that the state government did not take any action and it was some lawyers and concerned citizens who approached the courts.

The BJP and its frontal organisations staged protests in various parts of the state Friday, demanding immediate arrest of Akbar. They also demanded that he should be disqualified as member of the legislative assembly.

Assembly Speaker N. Manohar said many people, through phone and e-mails, complained about the alleged provocative remarks of the legislator. If a formal complaint is lodged, the house committee would look into it, Manohar said.

Earlier, police pasted a notice at the residence of the MIM leader, who is away in London for medical treatment.

A day after registering the cases, police in Adilabad and Nizamabad districts served notice on the legislator. As nobody was at his house in Banjara Hills here, police pasted the notices on the wall of the main entrance.

Akbar has been asked to appear before police on Jan 8 at Nirmal town and on Jan 9 at Nizamabad for questioning with regard to the speeches he delivered at public meetings at Nirmal and Nizamabad towns last month.

Akbar, who is leader of the MIM in the Andhra Pradesh assembly, faces arrest as the police have booked him under non-bailable sections of the IPC.

The cases have been registered under Section 121 (waging or attempting to wage war against the state), Section 153 (A) and Section 295A (for deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs).

Director General of Police V. Dinesh Reddy Thursday said they may also seek Interpol’s help if the legislator is found to be deliberately delaying his appearance before police. He denied any soft-pedalling on the issue and attributed the delay to seeking legal opinion before proceeding against a legislator.

Akbar, who represents Chandrayangutta assembly constituency, is the younger brother of MIM chief and MP from Hyderabad, Asaduddin Owaisi.

IANS 2013-01-04 20:10:20