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Akbaruddin Owaisi returns to Hyderabad
Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) legislator Akbaruddin Owaisi
returned to Hyderabad from London early Monday and will appear
before police in connection
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Hyderabad: Government
doctors will examine MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi Tuesday to find
out if he is physically fit for questioning by police in
connection with the case booked against him over his alleged hate
speeches, police said.
Owaisi, who is leader of MIM in Andhra Pradesh legislative
assembly, has also moved the high court, seeking orders to
restrain police from arresting him and also to quash cases booked
against him in various police stations over his alleged hate
speeches.
Hours after Owaisi, who returned from London early Monday, cited
ill-health and sought four days' time to personally appear for
questioning before police in Nirmal town of Adilabad district, the
investigation officer visited the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM)
leader's house here to ascertain his condition.
Inspector General of Police (Warangal range) A.B. Venkateshwar Rao
told reporters Monday night that the investigating officer found
him in a fit condition to face investigations.
"However, Mr Akbaruddin Owaisi complained of some internal pains.
The investigating officer has decided to subject him to medical
tests tomorrow (Tuesday) before taking further action," he said.
Earlier, tension prevailed at the MIM leader's house in the posh
Banjara Hills neighbourhood as a large number of his supporters
gathered outside, raising slogans in his favour. Some of the
protestors were holding placards. "Why all rules for Akbar Owaisi,
not for Narendra Modi or Praveen Togadia," read one such placard.
Two police officers from Nirmal left the house after they spent 45
minutes. Citing ill-health, Owaisi who returned from London early
Monday, did not travel to Nirmal, about 200 km from here. Police
had directed him to appear before Nirmal police station Monday
morning.
In his petition, Owaisi also sought directions to police to stop
registering cases. He argued that cases can't be registered in
many police stations over his one or two speeches.
He alleged that a section of media telecast only part of his
speech and police booked cases due to pressure from media. He also
claimed that his political rivals were filing series of
complaints. The petition will come up for hearing on Jan 9.
Earlier, two lawyers, who reached Nirmal police station on behalf
of Owaisi, submitted doctors' report.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its frontal organizations
meanwhile continued their protests against Owaisi in various parts
of the state. A shutdown was observed in Nirmal, where prohibitory
orders were imposed.
BJP workers took out a rally in Nirmal and tried to lay siege to
the police station where Owaisi's lawyers was meeting the police
officials. Police have arrested some protestors.
BJP staged protests at various places in Hyderabad, Adilabad,
Nizamabad and other districts, demanding immediate arrest of the
legislator. The protestors set afire the effigy of the MIM leader.
Owaisi arrived at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here
around 3 a.m. to a warm welcome by MIM leaders and hundreds of
supporters. He later drove to his house.
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).
The Nizamabad police, who too booked him under Section 153A and
295A of the IPC, also directed him to appear before them Jan 8 for
questioning over a speech he made in the town.
The Osmania University police in Hyderabad also have slapped a
case against him at the directions of a city court, and summoned
the legislator Jan 10.
In another development, the ethics committee of the state assembly
at its meeting Monday decided to recommend to assembly speaker to
take action against Owaisi for his provocative speeches. It
decided to take up the issue in the next session.
Meanwhile, MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said now that his brother is
back in Hyderabad, he would appear before the appropriate
authority. "We will face the case legally and we are not going to
run away," he told a meeting at MIM headquarters.
He alleged that the ruling Congress and BJP had joined hands to
target Akbar Owaisi and MIM.
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