Hyderabad : Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi, in a row over a hate speech, returned early on Monday morning from London to a rousing reception by his supporters at the airport. A hospital ambulance was at his residence for a reported check up on Monday morning.
He was likely to surrender to the police on Monday after being booked for delivering a hate speech, but Owaisi has approached the investigating officer in Adilabad seeking four days extension for appearance. Prohibitory orders, however, remain in force in Nirmal town of the district till 6 pm on Monday in anticipation of his meeting with police.
He was directed by the court to appear before the police in Adilabad district on Monday and in Nizamabad town on January 8. When asked if the police anticipated any trouble due to his appearance, the police officer said, “Everything will be taken care of”. 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.
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.
Meanwhile, TDP and BJP leaders held protests at various places in the state, demanding action against Owaisi. TDP MLA Revant Reddy demanded that Owaisi be disqualified for his comments.
Speaking at a protest, state BJP president G Kishan Reddy said that steps should be taken to ensure that Owaisi returns to India to face the law.