Asaduddin bail plea rejected; Akbar’s remand extended

MIM MLA Mumtaz Khan and advocates at the Sangareddy court in Medak district on Tuesday. Photo: Mohf. Arif

Luck did not favour brothers -- Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen MP Asaddudin Owaisi and MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi -- on Tuesday. The former’s bail petition was rejected by a court here, while the latter’s judicial remand was extended by 14 more days till February 5 by a court at Nirmal in Adilabad district.

The bail petition filed by Asaduddin in a case relating to manhandling of the Collector and other officials in 2005 was dismissed by Judicial First Class Magistrate Court and Prohibition and Excise Court Judge K. Maruthi Devi.

Mild tension

Tension prevailed for some time near the court premises soon after the Judge dismissed the bail petition, with MIM workers raising slogans. Police immediately swung into action and dispersed the agitators. As a precautionary measure, heavy security force was posted at the court.

Lawyers of Asaduddin pleaded for his bail with the assurance that he would appear before the court whenever directed.

The bail was necessary as he had to attend a conference in Hyderabad on January 24. Eminent national and international delegates were participating in the conference.

However, public prosecutor M.R. Arpitha argued that the accused had deliberately avoided attending the court, which was hardly 60 KM from Hyderabad, where he stayed.

She also stated that the accused, being a barrister from London, could not be ignorant of law. Meanwhile, Asaduddin is stated to have fallen ill at the district jail at Kandi where he is lodged, according to MIM’s legal advisor Aijaz Ali Qureshi and legislator Mumtaz Khan who had met him.