Court grants bail to Azmi MLA, notes police acted without verifying interview

A sessions court in Mumbai granted anticipatory bail to Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi, observing that the investigating officer had registered the case against him without watching the interview in which he was accused of hurting religious sentiments by praising Mughal ruler Aurangzeb.

The court also cautioned Azmi, who has been suspended from the ongoing Budget session of the Maharashtra Assembly over the remarks, urging him to exercise restraint while making public statements and to be mindful of his responsibilities as a senior politician, The Indian Express reported.

Azmi had faced two FIRs, one in Thane and another at Marine Drive police station, under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to hurting religious sentiments, insulting religious beliefs, and defamation, following his statements made on March 3 at the Maharashtra Assembly premises.

The court noted that the investigation was at a preliminary stage and expressed surprise that the investigating officer had not obtained a video recording of the interview before registering the case.

The prosecution had opposed Azmi’s plea for pre-arrest bail, arguing that his comments had come at a sensitive time when religious sentiments were heightened following the release of a film.

Azmi, in his defence, contended that his remarks were taken out of context for political mileage and emphasised that he had immediately issued a clarification the next day, asserting that he had not intended to insult any national figures.

The court, considering the nature of the offence, concluded that custodial interrogation was not necessary since no material needed to be seized and Azmi was unlikely to evade the legal process. While granting him bail, the court imposed conditions requiring him to cooperate with the investigation and adhere to any directives issued by the court.