Gujarat Police obtained a two-day transit remand of Islamic Preacher Mufti Salman Azhari from a Mumbai court in an alleged hate speech case, news agency ANI reported. After nabbing Maulana Salman Azhari on Sunday, the Gujarat police took him to Ghatkopar police station. According to reports, the Gujarat Police requested Mufti Salman Azhari's arrest on Sunday evening, and a Mumbai Court granted them a transit remand, allowing the police to transport him to Junagadh.
Speaking with media, Maulana Mufti Salman Azhari's advocate Arif Siddiqui stated: "They (Police) had applied for his transit remand; we opposed that and we had also said that he was illegally detained. The notice that needs to be served to us as per the law wasn't given to us...he has been sent to a 2-day transit remand. We have been told that he will be taken to Junagadh (Gujarat)."
Earlier in the day, a Gujarati police squad arrived in Mumbai and apprehended Mufti Salman Azhari in connection with an alleged hate speech case.
After he was escorted to Ghatkopar Police Station, a big throng gathered outside to demand his release.
However, the Mumbai Police reported that the gathering had been dispersed and brought under control.
"In Mumbai, there is peace, the Ghatkopar area is also peaceful. Don't believe any rumours. I want to tell the people of Mumbai that, for them, Police are on the road," DCP Hemrajsingh Rajput told reporters.
After Azhari's arrest, Waris Pathan, the National spokesman of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, stated that the preacher had not delivered any controversial statement and that he should be treated fairly.
Speaking with media, Pathan stated: "The due process of law must be followed; he must be given a notice under Section 41 A. We have full faith in the law and order that we will get justice. He did not give any provocative speech; he made all the clarifications. When actual hate speeches are given, why doesn't the government take any action then, why have no arrests been made then?"