Police in no hurry to arrest Azmi
The city police on Tuesday frustrated Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi’s designs by refusing to arrest him after he surrendered.
By TNN |
MUMBAI: The city police on Tuesday frustrated Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi���s designs by refusing to arrest him after he surrendered.
Locked in a bitter battle with MNS chief, Mr Azmi wanted to up the ante by surrendering before the police and courting arrest. At a time when the city police is busy piecing together proof against Mr Azmi and Mr Thackeray for inciting violence, the former turned himself in before the police commissioner. The Rajya Sabha leader, accompanied by his lawyer, met joint commissioner of police (law and order) KL Prasad at the police headquarters this afternoon.
Mr Azmi said he wanted to submit himself before the police and offered himself to be arrested. Realising the political motive behind the move, the police didn���t oblige and asked Mr Azmi to leave the place. Mr Azmi later told reporters that he had come to see Mr Prasad following reports that an FIR had been filed against him, and ���to court arrest if they wish so���. The police told him action will be taken only after investigation is over.
The Mumbai police, however, said it is not going to arrest either Raj or Azmi immediately. Asked if it was not mandatory to arrest Raj, Maharashtra director general of police PS Pasricha said: ���Arrest depends on the investigations in the case. Arrest is not mandatory according to law.���
As reported, both the leaders have been booked under sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153A (promoting enmity between groups on the basis of place of birth, residence) and 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration). Mr Prasad had claimed on Monday that the ���cases were registered against the two on the basis of certain evidence and arrest is mandatory���.
There were sporadic incidents of violence in the city specifically targeting north Indians, which began on February 3, after Raj launched a verbal assault against north Indians.
Locked in a bitter battle with MNS chief, Mr Azmi wanted to up the ante by surrendering before the police and courting arrest. At a time when the city police is busy piecing together proof against Mr Azmi and Mr Thackeray for inciting violence, the former turned himself in before the police commissioner. The Rajya Sabha leader, accompanied by his lawyer, met joint commissioner of police (law and order) KL Prasad at the police headquarters this afternoon.
Mr Azmi said he wanted to submit himself before the police and offered himself to be arrested. Realising the political motive behind the move, the police didn���t oblige and asked Mr Azmi to leave the place. Mr Azmi later told reporters that he had come to see Mr Prasad following reports that an FIR had been filed against him, and ���to court arrest if they wish so���. The police told him action will be taken only after investigation is over.
The Mumbai police, however, said it is not going to arrest either Raj or Azmi immediately. Asked if it was not mandatory to arrest Raj, Maharashtra director general of police PS Pasricha said: ���Arrest depends on the investigations in the case. Arrest is not mandatory according to law.���
As reported, both the leaders have been booked under sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153A (promoting enmity between groups on the basis of place of birth, residence) and 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration). Mr Prasad had claimed on Monday that the ���cases were registered against the two on the basis of certain evidence and arrest is mandatory���.
There were sporadic incidents of violence in the city specifically targeting north Indians, which began on February 3, after Raj launched a verbal assault against north Indians.
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