Telangana court acquits Raja Singh in 2022 case over remarks on Prophet Muhammad

A Special court in Hyderabad on Tuesday acquitted former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA T. Raja Singh in a case booked against him in 2022 for alleged derogatory comments about Prophet Muhammad.

Special Court for MPs/MLAs acquitted Raja Singh, who was arrested and jailed for more than two months under the Preventive Detention (PD) Act.

The controversial MLA, who quit BJP last year, was booked under Sections 153A(a)(b), 295A, 504, 505(2) and 506 of the IPC after his remarks had triggered public outrage.

Raja Singh's counsel K. Karuna Sagar said the court held that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt and acquitted the MLA.

Raja Singh, who represents the Goshamahal constituency, termed the court judgment as 'victory of truth'.

He alleged that under pressure from the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), the then Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government invoked the PD Act and kept him in jail for nearly 77 days.

"During that difficult time, I had complete faith in the Judiciary. After coming out of jail, I decided to fight the legal battle in the court. For the past four years, this case has been running in the MP-MLA Special Court. I have always presented my side within the framework of the law and the Constitution. Today, after the court proceedings, all the charges levelled against me have been proven false. This is the victory of truth, justice, and the law," he wrote on social media platform X.

The MLA denied making any comments to hurt religious sentiments.

Stating that several fake cases were registered against him even under the present Congress-led Telangana government, Raja Singh exuded confidence of getting acquitted in every case.

Thanking his supporters, the former BJP MLA said that he respects the judiciary and will continue to serve the people and work within the framework of the Constitution.

Raja Singh was arrested on August 25, 2022, after the Hyderabad Police Commissioner C.V. Anand invoked the Preventive Detention Act.

He was released from jail on November 9 after the Telangana High Court set aside the Police Commissioner's order and granted him bail.

The BJP had suspended Raja Singh from the party after his derogatory comments.

However, the BJP revoked his suspension ahead of 2023 Assembly elections and fielded him again from the Goshamahal constituency.

He was re-elected to the Telangana State Assembly.

Last year, Raja Singh resigned from the BJP after he was reportedly not allowed to file his nomination for election to the post of Telangana unit Chief.

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