AP Police files two FIRs against Owaisi for 'hate speech'

Taking suo motu action, Andhra Pradesh police on Thursday filed two FIRs against Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi for allegedly making a "hate speech" against a particular community.

The FIRs were registered at Adilabad and Nizamabad districts last night and notices were dispatched to Owaisi seeking his appearance before the Investigating Officers (IOs) to record his statement, Director General of Police (DGP) V Dinesh Reddy said.

He denied that there was delay in filing the cases and said they were following certain procedures because Owaisi was a people's representative and the police wanted to be sure and gather concrete evidence before moving forward.

The legislator had allegedly used inflammatory and derogatory language against a particular community during his public speeches last month.

"There may be slight delay in view of transcribing the speeches due to the language (Urdu) factor," the DGP said.

The MLA from Chandrayangutta here has been booked under IPC Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, language etc and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs). He has also been booked under IPC Section 121 (waging or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against the Government of India).

The FIRs were registered after obtaining legal opinion on Wednesday as the audio-video of Owaisi's statements had been sent to the Chief Legal Advisor, the DGP said.

Prima facie there seems to be evidence against the MLA, Reddy said, adding the MIM leader could be arrested if the charges against him were established during the probe.

Owaisi, who is reportedly in London for treatment, had allegedly delivered the "hate speeches" during public meetings in Nirmal town of Adilabad district on December 24 and in Nizamabad town on December 8.

"Law will take its course...definitely he will be questioned. Notices are being sent to his residence here. It is learnt that he is out of the country and if he fails to appear then we will have to call him back and if necessary Interpol's assistance will be taken," the DGP said.