Mumbai, March 19: The Bombay high court directed Saiyed Maulana Shaikh Mehraj Rabbani, accused of giving inflammatory speech at a public meeting in Ghatkopar in January this year, to not give any public speech till his anticipatory bail is decided.
Justice RS Mohite granted Rabbani, 42, interim protection till April 7. Rabbani had given a speech against Sayed Khwaja Garib Nawaz of Ajmer on January 30.
The court was hearing an anticipatory bail application filed by Rabbani, seeking protection in a case registered by the Ghatkopar police station. Last week, a sessions court had rejected his plea. Rabbani, a translator with the Islamic Guidance Centre at Holi City, Saudi Arabia, then moved the high court.
Justice Mohite will also hear the submissions of several Muslim organisations who are opposing Rabbani’s bail plea, as he has widely criticised not only Khwaja Garib Nawaz but also several Muslim sects, Hindus, Christians and Jews.
Rabbani’s advocate argued that his client had been made a victim of several other sects of Muslims. His lawyer argued that Rabbani is a follower of Ahle Hadis, a sect of Islam. This sect follows Hanafi law and is more conservative in the sense that it takes inspiration only from Koran and Hadis.
His lawyer argued that the complainant, Shiraz Ahmed Abdul Rashid Shaikh, belongs to the Barelvis sect and the case is falsely framed against him.
Representing Shiraz Shaikh, his counsel, Rizwan Merchant, argued that Rabbani is in the habit of giving hate speech and criticising Sayed Khwaja Garib Nawaz, Hinduism, Christianity, Jew and other religions including Islam itself.
“He belongs to Ahle Hadis, which is a political party in Pakistan supporting terrorism. This man has circulated 2,800 video CDs containing inflammatory speeches,” Merchant informed the court.
The court has allowed Merchant to assist in the case, as he is representing the complainant.
Meanwhile, two other Muslim groups including the Muslims Against Terrorism have also sought court’s permission to file an intervening application.
“This man [Rabbani] should not be granted the anticipatory bail. We are opposing his views, all Muslims does not support terrorism,” said the counsel representing the group.
-Agencies