Mumbai: A Mumbai court has warned Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi to exercise restraint while making public statements, emphasizing that any “irresponsible” remark from a senior politician like him could incite riots. The caution came while granting Azmi anticipatory bail on Tuesday in a case related to his controversial remarks praising Mughal ruler Aurangzeb.
Additional Sessions Judge V G Raghuwanshi, while delivering the order, stated that as the offence pertained to statements made in an interview, police custody was not required for further investigation. The court also noted that Azmi, being a politician and businessman, was unlikely to evade justice, making it a “fit case” for anticipatory bail.
“Before parting with the order, I would like to caution the applicant to exercise restraint while giving interviews, considering the prevailing circumstances. Any irresponsible statement can flare riots and create law and order problems,” the judge remarked.
The case was registered last week under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against Azmi, who represents the Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar constituency in Mumbai. The court expressed hope that Azmi, as a senior leader, would understand his responsibility and avoid making statements that could disturb communal harmony.
