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Raja Singh with his lawyer in Hyderabad. Image Credit: ANI

Hyderabad: Hyderabad Police on Thursday arrested suspended Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Raja Singh hours after issuing him notices in two old cases.

Police picked up the MLA from his residence amid continuing protests for his re-arrest for allegedly making derogatory comments about Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).

A few minutes before his arrest, the MLA released a video blaming Telangana minister K. T. Rama Rao for the communally tense situation in Hyderabad by allowing comedian Munawar Faruqui to perform in Hyderabad.

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Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel stand guard to maintain law and order, in the wake of the protests erupted over the alleged blasphemous remarks by Raja Singh, near Charminar in the Old City of Hyderabad on Thursday. Image Credit: ANI

The controversial MLA was arrested a couple of hours after police officers from Shaninayathgunj and Mangalhat police station issued the notices under Section 41A of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Both the notices were issued in connection with the old cases.

Mangalhat police issued notice with regard to a complaint booked in February for threatening voters of Uttar Pradesh through a video which had gone viral during the Assembly elections in that state.

A case was registered against him on the direction of the Election Commission of India.

Shahinayathgunj police issued notice with regard to a case of making provocative speeches at Begum Bazar in April.

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RAF personnel in the Old City of Hyderabad on Thursday. Image Credit: ANI

Following massive protests over his offensive remarks against the Prophet, the police had arrested Raja Singh on Tuesday. He, however, was granted bail by a city court the same day.

The 14th Additional Metropolitan Court in Nampally, rejected the remand report of the police on the ground that they did not issue notices to the MLA under 141A of CrPC.

Cases against the MLA were booked at various police stations in different parts of Hyderabad and other districts of Telangana for promoting enmity between the sections of people on the grounds of religion.

He was arrested in connection with the cases booked at two police stations. However, during arguments on his bail petition, his counsel had brought to the notice of the court that the police did not follow the Supreme Court guidelines with regard to the cases under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections which provide for maximum punishment of seven years imprisonment.