New Delhi: The special sessions court for MPs & MLAs on Wednesday acquitted All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Akbaruddin Owaisi in two hate speech cases pertaining to Nirmal and Nizamabad districts.
The two cases were booked in 2012 for alleged hate speeches in Nizamabad and Nirmal. "Case could not be proved beyond a reasonable doubt," said Owaisi's counsel.
The court directed Akbaruddin not to make controversial statements in the future, keeping in view the national integrity, a Hindustan Times report said.
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Earlier on Tuesday, the court postponed the hearing. The court had last week reserved its orders in the case relating to the alleged hate speeches delivered by Akbaruddin at two public meetings in 2012. Two cases were registered against Akbaruddin at two police stations in Adilabad and Nizamabad districts in relation to his alleged hate speeches at Nirmal and Nizamabad on December 8 and 22, 2012.
The MIM leader was arrested on January 7, 2013 after his speeches went viral on social networking sites. He was booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 120-B (Criminal Conspiracy), 153-A (promoting enmity between two groups on the basis of religion) and other sections.
After spending 40 days in jail, he walked free after a court granted him bail. In 2016, police had filed a charge sheet against Akbaruddin in a court in Adilabad district after the state government gave permission for his prosecution. FIRs were lodged against the AIMIM leader in various police stations in the state. Last month, Telangana High Court had ordered the clubbing of multiple FIRs into one single case. His counsel has argued that there cannot be multiple FIRs on one alleged crime.
(With IANS inputs)