In fresh trouble for MIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi, arrested on sedition charges, a court in Nizamabad today directed police to produce him before January 19 in another `hate speech’ case, while a court in Medak sought his presence in a 2005 case of rioting.
On January 8, Owaisi was arrested by Nirmal town police in Adilabad district for an allegedly objectionable speech that targeted a particular community. He was charged with sedition and criminal conspiracy, among other offences.
Nizamabad police have also registered a case against the MIM legislator for a speech delivered at a rally on December 8 in the town. Nizamabad Judicial Magistrate’s court ordered today that he be produced, in response to `Prisoner Transit Warrant’ filed by local police, as Owaisi is currently lodged in Adilabad prison in Nirmal case.
The Medak District Court also directed Patancheru police to produce Owaisi before it in a seven-year-old case.
This case had been registered against Owaisi, his brother and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi and 21 others in 2005 under IPC sections 153 (A) (`promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion’), 147 (rioting) and 186 (obstructing public servant), etc.
It followed a protest by MIM against demolition of a mosque at Muttangi village during Hyderabad-Mumbai National Highway widening.
Medak police officials may leave for Adilabad to take custody of the jailed legislator tomorrow, police said.
Meanwhile, the court at Nirmal today accorded `special prisoner’ status to Owaisi responding to his application, while remanding him in judicial remand till January 22.
Nirmal court had earlier granted five-day custody of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen MLA, from January 12 to January 16, to the police.
But he was produced in the court early morning today, a day before his police remand ended. He was sent back in judicial custody till January 22.
“Owaisi did not cooperate during custodial interrogation and same was informed to the court,” a senior police official said, adding that “we have recorded his statement.”
PTI
mosque at Muttangi village
