A sedition case has been filed against All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi for offering legal aid to five alleged Islamic State group members, reported PTI. The case was filed after advocate K Karuna Sagar moved court against the leader for his statement.

In his complaint, Sagar said, "The stand of Asaduddin Owaisi and his remarks is boosting the morale of anti-nationals and giving oxygen to terrorists. [Asaduddin] Owaisi is directly or indirectly helping the ISIS which had come up with a video in which it threatened to target India and this is betrayal of the country." He added that the information disclosed by the arrested men regarding plans to attack religious places and prominent right wing leader in the country are shocking.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (LB Nagar Zone) Tafseer Iqubal said, "It's a court referred matter based on a private complaint. The court directed the Saroor Nagar police to book a case and accordingly the case was booked under section 124A [sedition]." The senior police officer said the force will investigate the case and submit a report to the court.

In June, the five men were arrested in Hyderabad for their connections with the terror outfit. Following the arrest, Owaisi said he has asked a senior lawyer to help the accused after their families met him and claimed they were innocent. “Tomorrow, if these boys are found not guilty, who will return their life to them?” the leader had said.