Owaisi booked, may be arrested
Home guards during a protest to press for their demands in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. — PTI
The police found prima facie evidence against Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi for his speeches on December 8 and 22 in Nizamabad and Adilabad and booked two cases on Wednesday under non-bailable sections.
The MLA, who flew to London for treatment six days ago, is not available for questioning and sources said that he might be arrested after he returns.
The cases booked against the MIM MLA were under the Indian Penal Code’s non-bailable Sections 121 (waging or abetting war against the nation — punishable by death or life imprisonment) — and 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion — punishable by three years imprisonment), 295 A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings — punishable by imprisonment for three years).
Denying any delay in registered the FIR, director-general of police V. Dinesh Reddy said, “There is a prima facie case. We will take a call on his arrest after doubly confirming the evidence. If Akbar does not return from London after treatment and if he tries to evade the investigators, we will then follow due processes including taking the help of Interpol.”
“There was no delay as alleged. We took a legal opinion as he is a public representative. The district police sent the opinion to Hyderabad; the chief legal adviser gave the opinion after going through the speeches and cases were booked against him.
“Our probe will be impartial. An arrest will be part of the future course of action. On Thursday morning the police summoned him but he was not available. He went to London for treatment and we will wait for him,” added Mr Reddy.
When asked about giving permission for Mr Owaisi’s meetings in the future he said, “Akbar has been found to be making inflammatory speeches continuously. So we will take a call on permitting his future meetings. He will be warned not to make such speeches.”
Nizamabad superintendent of police Vikram Jeet Duggal said, “We will serve a notice on the accused and he has to appear before investigating officials. We are collecting the CDs of his speeches and the same will be sent for forensic examination. No one has come forward to file a petition against him. The police has suo motu registered a case after taking cognisance. We had taken legal opinion based on which we have booked the case.”
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