India News: A local court today issued a non-bailable warrant against MIM legislator Akbaruddin Owaisi after he failed to appear before it in a hate speech case lodged against him at Nirmal in Adilabad district.

Second Metropolitan Magistrate Durgaprasad dismissed the petition filed by Akbaruddin's counsel seeking to dispense with his personal attendance and issued the NBW.

"Many opportunities were given to Akbaruddin asking him to personally appear before the court. However, as he did not appear, the magistrate issued the NBW. Now the police have to execute the same," a public prosecutor said.