Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi, booked for allegedly delivering a hate speech against a particular community today sought four days to appear before police citing medical reasons. Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) legislator Akbaruddin Owaisi returned to Hyderabad from London early Monday and will appear before police in connection with a case against him for making alleged hate speeches last month.
Akbar Owaisi arrived at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here around 3 a.m. He later drove to his house in the Banjara Hills area of the city.
As the MIM leader faces arrest and police stepped up security in Nirmal town and also in the old city of Hyderabad. Prohibitory orders banning assembly of five or more persons were imposed in Nirmal.
The BJP has called for a shutdown in Nirmal, where police mobilized additional forces to maintain peace.
A police official said that all routes to the town were sealed off and vehicles were being thoroughly checked to prevent any untoward incident. Akbar Owaisi, is likely to appear before police along with his elder brother and MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and his lawyer.
The police in Nirmal last week booked the 42-year-old MIM leader under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 121 (waging or attempting to wage war against the state), Section 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, language and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and Section 295A (for deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs).
On Saturday, Andhra Pradesh DGP V Dinesh Reddy said Owaisi informed police that he was undergoing treatment in London and would appear before it shortly.
As part of a further probe into the two cases, notices were issued against Owaisi on January 4 and he was directed to appear before police in Adilabad district on January 7, as well as the Nizambad II Town police on January 8.
Another notice was served to the MIM legislator by Osmania police asking him to appear before it on January 10.
While two FIRs were registered suo motu at Adilabad and Nizamabad districts, a third case was registered by Osmania University police, following a court directive after Owaisi allegedly used inflammatory language against a particular community last month.
Fresh complaints continued to pour in against Owaisi from Malkangiri and Vanasthalipuram, though no cases have been registered, police said.
Owaisi, who represents Chandrayangutta Assembly constituency, has been booked under Sec 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion) and Sec 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings) of IPC.
The MIM legislator has also been booked under Sec 121 (waging or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against the Government of India) of IPC.
With PTI/IANS inputs