Overview

• The Bombay High Court on June 30 sought the Mumbai police’s response to Azmi’s petitions to quash two FIRs and set the next hearing for four weeks later.
• Azmi’s plea contends the FIRs fail to specify any malicious intent and are politically motivated, arguing his comments were taken out of context.
• The two FIRs allege that his March interview praising Aurangzeb as a “good administrator” and noting temple and mosque destructions hurt religious sentiments under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
• A Mumbai sessions court had earlier granted him anticipatory bail in both cases and chastised investigators for filing charges before reviewing his remarks.
• The controversy began with Azmi’s suspension from the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha budget session after his remarks coincided with the release of the film Chhava.