Hyderabad: Owaisi's critic Togadia to be arrested today?

Hyderabad, Feb 8: Just a day after an FIR filed against him, sources informed that

is likely to be arrested on Friday, Feb 8. Maharashtra police registered two cases against the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (

) leader over his hate speech in which he allegedly had targetted

MLA

.

All India United Democratic Front member Imran Ali wrote to Nanded Police regarding Togadia's hate speeches. Citing the complaint, Nanded police filed the FIR.

Charges under Section 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), Section 505 (statements conducing public mischief) and Section 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc) have been filed against Togadia.

The Prithviraj Chavan-led Maharashtra government earlier was asked to investigate allegation that Togadia made provocative speeches against the members of a particular community.

"The Home Ministry's advise is clear. Once they have confirmed forensic evidence, appropriate action as per law must be taken against Togadia," an official said.

The state government had assured the Centre at the highest level that they would take due legal process. Minister of State for Home RPN Singh said if Togadia's speech is inflammatory, the state government must take action against him.

The Congress government in the state had reportedly ordered forensic examination of Togadia's alleged hate speech ahead of registering a case against him for "inciting communal hatred".

At a public meeting at Bhokar town in Nanded district of Maharashtra on Jan 22 - details of which are now emerging after a video-recording was posted online - Togadia had allegedly attacked Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi and members of a particular community.

Owaisi was sent to jail on charges of delivering a hate speech at Nirmal town in Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh in Jan 2013.

Nizamabad district of Andhra Pradesh on Thursday extended the MIM leader's judicial remand till Feb 12 over the hate speech. The court, while extending Akbaruddin's remand, fixed Feb 12 as the date for recording his voice sample, which will be done in the presence of experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). He was later shifted back to Adilabad District Jail.

OneIndia News
(With PTI inputs)