Hate-speech case: Court cancels NBW but asks Owaisi to appear

A magistrate's court here today cancelled a non-bailable warrant against MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi in a 'hate speech' case, but said he must appear before it on May 9.
The court had issued the warrant against Owaisi, an MLA of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), yesterday, following a complaint filed by advocate Kashimshetty Karunasagar. The court had directed the police to produce Owaisi on May 9.
Seeking a recall of the warrant, Akbaruddin's lawyer advocate Mohd Azim today argued that his client was not given the opportunity to appear before the court, and the NBW was issued on the same day the court took cognisance of the complaint.

"The court allowed the recall petition and cancelled the NBW," Azim told reporters later.
Karnunasagar argued that Akbaruddin had no privilege which entitled him not to appear before the court though he is an MLA.
He had filed the complaint on December 28, alleging that Akbaruddin, MLA from Chandrayangutta, had used inflammatory and derogatory language against a community while addressing a public meeting at Nirmal, in Adilabad district. The complaint was based on an online video.

Police, on their own, have lodged cases in Nirmal and Nizamabad districts against the MIM legislator over the same issue.
The MIM leader faces charges of sedition and waging war against the nation, apart from other charges under the Indian Penal Code.

In one of these cases, the 42-year-old MIM leader was arrested by the Nirmal police on January 8, to be released on bail on February 15.