Akbaruddin Owaisi arrested on charges of 'hate speech'

Andhra Pradesh Police on Tuesday arrested Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) lawmaker Akbaruddin Owaisi in connection with a hate speech case, hours after doctors at the government-run Gandhi Hospital said that he is suffering from a number of ailments.

Earlier, a team of doctors conducted over ten medical tests on Owaisi.

As per the medical report released a short while ago, Owaisi has adhesions and hernia in the abdomen and a bullet in his right thigh, which is pressing on his sciatic nerve.

Speculation is rife that he may be directly taken to Nirmal town in Adilabad District, about 200 km from Hyderabad, where one of the FIRs against him has been lodged.

Owaisi’s supporters reportedly attacked vehicles outside the Gandhi Hospital, and there are reports that many areas of Old Hyderabad are tense.

Owaisi has moved the Andhra Pradesh High Court, seeking orders to restrain the state police from arresting him and also to quash cases booked against him in various police stations over his alleged hate speeches.

Owaisi has alleged that a section of media telecast only a part of his speech and that the police had booked cases under media pressure. He also claimed that his political rivals were filing a series of complaints. His petition will come up for hearing on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the opposition BJP and its frontal organisations are continuing with their protests against Owaisi in various parts of the state. A shutdown was observed in Nirmal, where prohibitory orders were imposed.

The BJP staged protests at various places in Hyderabad, Adilabad, Nizamabad and other districts, demanding the immediate arrest of the legislator. The protestors also set an effigy of the MIM leader on fire.

MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has said that his brother would appear before the appropriate authority.