Mumbai court grants anticipatory bail to Samajwadi Party MLA booked for praising Aurangzeb

The Mumbai Sessions Court on Tuesday granted anticipatory bail to Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi in connection with his controversial remarks praising Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly..The court set a solvent surety bond of ₹20,000 for his release.Additional Sessions Judge VG Raghuwanshi granted bail to the MLA subject to the condition that he appears before the investigating officer on March 12, 13 and 15 between 11 am and 1 pm. The Court also directed Azmi not to tamper with any evidence related to the case. .Azmi's controversial remarks, which sparked a political storm, were made when he was questioned by the media on March 3 during the budget session of the assembly. Azmi stated allegedly said that "Aurangzeb was a good administrator". He further said that "During his reign, India was called 'A Golden Sparrow,' and the country's GDP was 24%, which is why the British came to India." He further said that the ruler did not take a single rupee from the administration and that during his regime, India's borders extended to Burma and Afghanistan.Azmi went on to further assert that Aurangzeb's army included Hindu commanders, and the battles fought by him were not between Hindus and Muslims, which he claimed had been misinterpreted. His remarks, however, were criticized for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of the Hindu community. Following these comments, Azmi was suspended from the Maharashtra Assembly.Further, in his remarks to the media, Azmi also pointed out that the ruling political party in India was seeking to create a divide between Hindus and Muslims and their actions were aimed at "destroying the Muslims in this country."These statements were met with backlash and many felt that by praising Aurangzeb who had destroyed many Hindu temples, Azmi had not only hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus but had also defamed the ruling political establishment.Azmi was booked for offences under Sections 299 (deliberate insult to religious beliefs), 302 (hurting religious feelings), and 356(1) and 356(2) (defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which govern offences related to religious sentiments and defamation.Azmi claimed that the media had misrepresented his statements and continued to assert his innocence. He also called for the revocation of his suspension from the Assembly..Advocate Mubin Solkar along with advocates Tahir Hussain, Anas Shaikh, Shah and Sumaiya Khan appeared for Azmi.Assistant Public Prosecutor Ajit Chavan appeared for the State.