HC allows release of suspended BJP MLA Raja Singh held for Prophet remarks

'It is not bail, the court has set aside the PD act imposed on Singh,' one of the advocates representing the Telangana legislator said

The Telangana High Court on Wednesday ordered the release of suspended BJP MLA Raja Singh from remand in a Hyderabad jail.

The Goshamahal MLA was arrested on August 25 by the Hyderabad police by invoking the Prevention Detention Act, after he allegedly made objectionable comments hurting the sentiments of a minority community.

“It is not bail, the court has set aside the PD act imposed on Singh,” Karunasagar Kashimshetty, one of the advocates representing the Telangana legislator said.

Singh's release appeal was rejected by the PD Act advisory board last month.

The HC allowed the release now, hearing a petition by Singh's wife Usha Bai. However, the court laid down conditions for Singh, barring him from taking out celebratory rallies or addressing the media after his release. The court also directed him to not deliver any derogatory or inflammatory speeches, or post on any matter on social media.

Singh's arrest came following his alleged inflammatory comments in a video posted on YouTube, similar to remarks made by suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma with reference to Prophet Mohammed earlier this year. The BJP suspended him immediately, stating that he had violated the party constitution.

The firebrand legislator said his satirical video was in retaliation to controversial comic Munawar Faruqui's show that was allowed by the TRS government and Telangana police in Hyderabad, despite his repeated objections.

The short-lived video on YouTube sparked furious protests in Hyderabad's old city areas and a Muslim mob even rallied with the odious “Sar tan se juda” (a call for beheading) slogan, proclaiming it as punishment for Singh.

The Telangana Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) welcomed Singh's release, while demanding the K Chandrasekhar Rao government to apologise to the Hindu community for “its false secularism and illegal imposition of the PD Act on Singh.”

BJP leaders, however, maintained silence.

In his reply to the show-cause notice, Singh appealed to the BJP disciplinary committee to let him stay in the party, asserting that he did not hurt the sentiments of any religion. He alleged that he was targeted by the TRS-AIMIM combine.