SP MLA Abu Asim Azmi pays tribute to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj amid Aurangzeb controversy; granted anticipatory bail

Suspended SP MLA Abu Asim Azmi pays tribute to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, sparking controversy over remarks on Aurangzeb.

Suspended Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Abu Asim Azmi on Tuesday (March 11, 2025) paid tribute to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj on his death anniversary, hailing him as a “valiant warrior.” The gesture comes amid a heated controversy over Mr. Azmi’s remarks praising Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, which led to his suspension from the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and a legal battle.  

In a post on social media platform X, Mr. Azmi wrote, “On the martyrdom day of the second Chhatrapati of Swarajya, the valiant warrior, Dharmveer Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, I pay my humble tribute.” Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, is celebrated for his military campaigns against the Portuguese and Mughals. He was captured and executed by Aurangzeb’s forces in Sangameshwar, a moment etched in Maharashtra’s history as a symbol of resistance and sacrifice.  

Mr. Azmi’s tribute follows his suspension from the Assembly until the conclusion of the ongoing budget session on March 26. His remarks praising Aurangzeb had sparked outrage among ruling party legislators, who argued that glorifying the Mughal emperor insulted the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, both revered figures in the state.  

Meanwhile, a Mumbai sessions court granted Mr. Azmi anticipatory bail on a solvent surety bond of ₹20,000 in connection with the case filed against him over his controversial remarks. The court directed him to appear before the investigating officer on March 12, 13, and 15 between 11 am and 1 pm and barred him from tampering with evidence.  

Mumbai Police had registered a case against Azmi under sections 299, 302, 356(1), and 356(2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) after his remarks in the Assembly premises triggered widespread condemnation. The SP leader had sought anticipatory bail to avoid arrest, maintaining that his comments were misinterpreted.  

In a letter to Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, Mr. Azmi accused the media of “misrepresenting” his statement and urged the revocation of his suspension. “The media tried to malign me by misrepresenting my statement. I humbly request that my suspension be withdrawn as I am not at fault,” he wrote.  

He clarified that his remarks were made in response to journalists who approached him for a reaction after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma compared Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to Aurangzeb. “On March 3, while leaving the Assembly hall, media representatives asked me about Mr. Sarma’s comments. In response, I quoted historian Meena Bhargava’s article and said Aurangzeb had helped temples,” he explained.