The special sessions court for MP and MLAs at Nampally metropolitan courts in Hyderabad on Wednesday acquitted AIMIM controversial leader Akbaruddin Owaisi in decade-old hate speech cases and directed him not to make any controversial speeches in future, keeping in view the national integrity.

A special court in Hyderabad’s Nampally was hearing the two cases filed against Owaisi for delivering hate speeches against Hindus in 2012 and 2019. He was charged in Nirmal and in Nizamabad in 2012 under the IPC for criminal conspiracy and promoting enmity between two groups based on religion.

Following his acquittal, AIMIM leader and brother Asaduddin Owaisi said that he was grateful for the public support in the case. “Alhamdulilah Akbaruddin Owaisi has been acquitted by MP/MLA Special Court in two criminal cases against him for alleged hate speeches. Grateful to all for their prayers & support. Special thanks to Advocate Abdul Azeem saab and senior lawyers who provided their valuable assistance”, he tweeted.

Akbaruddin allegedly used inflammatory and derogatory language against Hindu community during his public speeches delivered at Telangana's Nizamabad on December 8, 2012 and at Nirmal town on December 22, 2012. In his highly inflammatory speech, he asked to remove the police for 15 minutes so that he could finish off 100 crore Hindus. While addressing a crowd in Nirmal, Akbaruddin Owaisi resorted to fear-mongering and attempted to incite violence against Hindus by raking up the issues of alleged lynchings against minorities.

He had also abused the Hindu deities and blatantly mocked Hindus for worshipping them. “Hindus have so many Gods and every eight days there are new Gods coming up. We knew Lakshmi, but we don’t know who is Bhagyalakshmi”, he had said referring to the Bhagyalakshmi temple near Charminar.

Subsequently, cases were registered against Akbaruddin on January 2, 2013 under IPC Sections 153A (promoting enmity among people on grounds of religion), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), and other sections for making "hate" speeches. He was arrested and later released on bail.

Image source: ANI