Hate speech: AP government gives nod to prosecute Akbaruddin Owaisi

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh government on Friday gave permission to prosecute All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) Chandrayangutta MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi, in a 2004 case for an alleged hate speech.

Chandrayangutta MLA Akbaruddin had allegedly made "communally inciting speeches" in 2004 public meetings during elections.

Subsequently, he was booked by the Chandrayangutta police under Sections 153 A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion), Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 125 of Representation of the People Act (Promoting enmity between different classes).

Later, the city police wrote to the government seeking permission to prosecute Akbaruddin Owaisi.

Upon perusal of relevant records pertaining to the case, the government said in an order today that the accused (Akbaruddin Owaisi) should be tried for offences punished under section 153-A.

"The Government of Andhra Pradesh hereby accords sanction for prosecution of the accused for offences punished under Section 153-A," the order said.

Akbaruddin, was earlier booked suo motu by police in Adilabad and Nizamabad II Town police, besides in Hyderabad and other parts of Andhra Pradesh, for allegedly delivering provocative speeches against a particular community at Nizamabad and Nirmal in December 2012.

Akbaruddin, was subsequently arrested by Nirmal police from Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad on January 8 last year (2013), and was sent to judicial custody and later granted bail.