Raja Singh booked for hate speech

Hyderabad: Hyderabad police on Saturday registered a criminal case against BJP MLA T Raja Singh for allegedly making certain controversial statements during the recent Sri Ramanavami Shobhayatra at Afzalgunj.Afzalgunj inspector M Ravindar Reddy told TOI that the Goshamahal MLA was booked under Section 153-A (promoting enmity between groups) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code based on a complaint lodged by sub-inspector J Veera Babu.During Thursday’s Shobhayatra, Raja Singh had addressed a huge gathering and delivered a speech. During yatra, when he allegedly made controversial remarks, police videographed speech and, after obtaining legal opinion, finally registered a case on Saturday. So far, police have not issued a notice to the suspended BJP MLA asking him to appear for questioning. “The investigation is yet to start,” the inspector said.In the past, police had invoked the Preventive Detention Act against Raja Singh, citing different cases registered against the Goshamahal MLA and he was lodged in prison for a few months. Raja Singh then approached the high court and got the detention order cancelled. tnn