Mumbai Cleric Granted Bail In Gujarat Hate Speech Case, Put In Preventive Detention

Upon Azhari's release on bail, he was detained in Modasa by the Junagadh local crime branch under the Gujarat Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA).

Mumbai-based Islamic preacher Mufti Salman Azhari was placed under preventive detention by Gujarat police immediately after being granted conditional bail in a hate speech case registered in the state's Arvalli district, according to news agency PTI.

Earlier on the same day, the court of Additional Sessions Judge HN Vakil approved bail for Azhari. He was charged for delivering an inflammatory speech in an open ground in Modasa on December 24 last year, as reported by PTI.

Notably, this marked the third instance of hate speech in Gujarat that led to the cleric's arrest before being granted bail.

Upon Azhari's release on bail, he was detained in Modasa by the Junagadh local crime branch under the Gujarat Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA), PTI reported. He is set to be transferred to Vadodara central jail, as confirmed by Junagadh crime branch inspector Jatin Patel.

"We have detained him under PASA soon after a warrant was issued against him by the Junagadh collector," Patel stated, according to PTI. The act empowers the administration to take preventive measures against anti-social elements for public safety.

Azhari was apprehended in Mumbai on February 5 following an alleged hate speech in Junagadh's B division police station limits on January 31. Subsequently, Kutch East police registered an FIR and arrested him on February 8 for delivering a provocative speech in Samakhiyari village in Bhachau taluka on January 31.

Earlier, Azhari had been granted bail in cases registered against him in Junagadh and Kutch. In both instances, he faced charges under Indian Penal Code sections 153B (promoting enmity between different religious groups) and 505 (2) (making statements conducive to public mischief).

In the Modasa case, in addition to IPC sections 153 (B) and 505 (2), Azhari was also charged under section 298 for uttering words with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person. According to PTI, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was invoked due to derogatory remarks against the SC community made during his speech in Modasa.