Owaisi at hospital amid high drama, tension

Amid high drama and tension, MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi Tuesday underwent medical tests in a hospital here on a police directive to ascertain if he was fit to face questioning for his hate speech.

The legislator underwent 11 tests at the government-run Gandhi Hospital since 10.30 a.m. with police waiting for the doctors' report before taking a decision on arresting him.

Akbar's lawyer came out of the hospital around 4 p.m to announce that his client was being made to wait without breakfast.

Tension prevailed outside the hospital with hundreds of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen workers reaching there to show solidarity with their leader.

Some pelted stones on buses and other vehicles, forcing police to use force to disperse them. Police have sealed off all routes leading to the hospital.

Police stepped up security in the communally sensitive old city in anticipation of protests by MIM in the event of Akbar's arrest.

Police and paramilitary forces were deployed in the old city and other parts of the city.
The situation remained tense in Nirmal town of Adilabad district where Akbar is likely to be taken after his possible arrest and in Nizamabad town where he was supposed to appear before police in a similar case.

Earlier, the legislator with tight police security left his house in Banjara Hills for the hospital at 10.30 a.m. after police officials served a notice asking him to undergo the medical tests.

A police official said after the tests, they would decide their next legal action.

MIM leaders including party chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi were at Akbar's house before he left for the hospital.

Akbar, who returned from London early Monday, sought four days' time to appear before police citing ill-health.

He was directed by police to appear at the Nirmal town police station, about 200 km from here, for questioning with regard to his alleged hate speech delivered last month.

The investigating officer Monday night visited Akbar's house.

Inspector General of Police A.B. Venkateshwar Rao reporters that the officer found Akbar in a fit condition but the legislator complained of some "internal pains".

The 42-year-old was seriously injured in an assassination attempt by his rivals in the old city in May 2011.

Police in Nizamabad had also directed Akbar to appear before them Tuesday in connection with a similar case in that town.

The young leader sought more time to make a personal appearance.

Akbar, who is a MIM member in the Andhra Pradesh assembly, also moved the high court, seeking orders to restrain police from arresting him.

He also pleaded that the police be directed not to book further cases. The petition is likely to come up for hearing Wednesday.

-PTI