Akbar booked for `provocative' speech

HYDERABAD: The city police slapped a case against Akbaruddin Owaisi, floor leader of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) in the assembly, for reportedly making a communally provocative speech at Khilwat grounds last week.
According to sources, Owaisi has been booked under IPC section 153 A (promoting enmity among classes).
According to the FIR, the case was filed on a complaint made by R S Praveen Kumar, joint commissioner, special branch.But the city police website said that the case was registered on a complaint lodged by J Venkat Reddy, inspector at Hussaini Alam police station, on September 19.
Praveen Kumar in his complaint said that a public meeting was held at Khilwat grounds where a number of MLAs and Babri Masjid Action Committee secretary Zafaryab Jeelani spoke. The speech of Owaisi was singularly inflammatory, he added.
The public meeting had been organized to observe the first death anniversary of Owaisi's father, former MP and president of the party Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi.
The Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi had also submitted a memorandum to home minister Sabita Reddy and city police commissioner A K Khan urging them to take immediate action against Owaisi. The Samithi was advised to lodge the complaint with the local police station.