Hyderabad : The
Hyderabad police are exploring the possibility of invoking the National
Security Act (NSA) against MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi. This follows a
letter from the Union home ministry earlier this month seeking a
detailed report about the alleged hate speeches that Akbar Owaisi
delivered in 2012.
Hyderabad police commissioner M Mahender Reddy has entrusted the
Special Branch (SB) of the city police to critically examine the MIM
floor leader’s hate speeches, which attract the relevant sections of the
1980 vintage NSA.The SB officials are scrutinizing a specific hate speech delivered on December 22, 2012 at Nirmal Town in Adilabad district.
However, top police officials in the state feel that criminal proceedings against the hate speeches have already been initiated against the MIM MLA and invoking of the stringent NSA would create unrest in the state.
But the Union home ministry’s letter, said to be following a stringent demand from an important MP, has put the Telangana police in a fix.
“We have already prosecuted him under the stringent sections of the Indian Penal Code. Further action would create unnecessary political controversies,” said a senior official on condition of anonymity.
Taking a cue from a series of reports against Akbar’s hate speeches telecast in the Mumbai-based Sudarshan TV news channel, an important MP is believed to have taken up the matter with Union home minister Rajnath Singh, upon which the ministry swung into action.
The National Security Act provides for a maximum detention of 12 months. The order can also be made by the district magistrate or a commissioner of police under their respective jurisdictions, but the detention has to be reported to the state government along with the grounds under which the order has been made. The Union government can also directly invoke the provisions of the NSA.
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