Mumbai Court Grants Anticipatory Bail To SP MLA Abu Azmi In Case For Praising Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb

A Mumbai Sessions Court on Tuesday granted anticipatory bail to Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi, who is booked in a criminal case for praising Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and calling him a 'good administrator'.

Additional Sessions Judge VG Raghuvanshi granted anticipatory bail to Azmi on a surety of Rs 20,000. A detailed order of the Court, is yet to be made available. 

Notably, Azmi has been embroiled in a political controversy after he spoke to the media personnel outside Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on March 3, wherein he allegedly 'praised' Aurangzeb stating that he was a 'good administrator' and that during his regime, India was called a 'golden sparrow.' He also stated that during Aurangazeb's regime, India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 24 per cent and it is because of this the Britishers came to India.

Further, as per his application, Azmi in the interview with media, also said that from what he had read and seen about Aurangazeb, "he was a ruler who did not take a single rupee from the administration and during his regime the borders of India had reached till Burma and Afghanistan and that during his time, people had gold in their house, due to which the British came to India."

Azmi further stated that "Aurangzeb's army had Hindu Commanders and the battles fought by him were not between Hindus and Muslims."

In the FIR lodged against Azmi in Mumbai's Marine Drive Police Station on March 4, it is alleged that he reportedly told the media personnel that the "ruling party in India, wanted to destroy the Muslims in this country, thereby they are creating tension between Hindu and Muslim religions."

The complainant - Kiran Nakti, a worker of the Shiv Sena party- alleged that Azmi has hurt the sentiments of the Hindu community and has also defamed the BJP party, which is ruling in India at present. 

"In fact, Aurangzeb had destroyed Hindu temples, caused injustice and oppression to the poor and that he had tortured Chatrapati Shambaji Maharaj for 40 days in order to compel him to convert from his religion and that his regime was a dark chapter in the history of India. Despite this, by praising Aurangazeb, the Applicant had hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindu community and also defamed the ruling political party," Nakti has stated in his FIR.

Accordingly, Azmi was booked under sections 299 (insulting religious beliefs), 302 (hurting religious feelings), 356 (1) and (2) (defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS). 

Notably, soon after his statements, Azmi was suspended for the ongoing budget sessions of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and the house has been witnessing huge ruckus on a daily basis with the ruling MLAs seeking suspension of Azmi for a period of five years. 

Appearance:

Advocates Mubin Solkar, Tahir Hussain, Anas Shaikh and Sumaiya Khan appeared for Abu Azmi.

Additional Public Prosecutor Ajit Chavan represented the State.