Police notice posted at Akbar Owaisi's house
Andhra Pradesh Police have pasted a notice at the residence of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, who has been booked for delivering alleged hate speeches and is away in London.
A day after registering the cases, police in Adilabad and Nizamabad districts served the notices on the legislator, who is in London for treatment. As nobody was available at his house in Banjara Hills in Hyderabad, police pasted the notices on the wall of the main entrance.
Akbar Owaisi has been asked to appear before police on Jan 8 at Nirmal town and on Jan 9 at Nizamabad. The police would question him with regard to the speeches he delivered during public meetings at Nirmal and Nizamabad towns last month.
Akbar Owaisi, who is leader of MIM in Andhra Pradesh assembly, faces arrest as the police have booked him under non-bailable sections of the Indian Penal Code.
The police registered cases under Section 121 (waging or attempting to wage war against the state), Section 153 (A) (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).
A separate case against him is likely to be registered in Hyderabad Friday. On a petition by a citizen, a city court had Thursday directed Osmania University police station to book the legislator. Police officers said a case would be booked after receipt of court orders.
Another city court has adjourned to Jan 7 hearing of petition by an advocate, seeking action against Akbar Owaisi for making hate speeches.
Director General of Police V. Dinesh Reddy said they may also seek Interpol's help if the legislator is found to be deliberately delaying his appearance before police. He denied any soft peddling of the issue and attributed the delay to seeking legal opinion before proceeding against a legislator.
Akbar Owaisi, who represents Chandrayangutta assembly constituency, is the younger brother of MIM chief and MP from Hyderabad, Asaduddin Owaisi.