Mumbai, Mar 12 (Reporter) A session court here granted Anticipatory Bail (AB) to Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi, booked for his controversial remarks praising Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb while interacting with media persons during the ongoing budget session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, a lawyer said on Wednesday. While granting bail, Additional Sessions Judge VG Raghuwanshi directed him to furnish a surety of Rs 20,000 in the event of his arrest. The court also directed Azmi to appear before the investigating officer today on March 12, 13, and 15 between 11 am and 1 pm. He has been further asked not to make any attempt to hamper and tamper with any evidence related to the case. Azmi's controversial remarks, which sparked a political storm, were made when he was questioned by the media on March 3 during the budget session of the assembly. Azmi allegedly stated that "Aurangzeb was a good administrator." He further said that "during his reign, India was called 'A Golden Sparrow,' and the country's GDP was 24%, which is why the British came to India." He further said that the ruler did not take a single rupee from the administration and that during his regime, India's borders extended to Burma and Afghanistan. His remarks, however, were criticised for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of the Hindu community. Following these comments, Azmi was suspended from the Maharashtra Assembly and was booked for offences under Sections 299 (deliberate insult to religious beliefs), 302 (hurting religious feelings), and 356(1) and 356(2) (defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which govern offences related to religious sentiments and defamation. Azmi claimed that the media had misrepresented his statements and continued to assert his innocence. He also called for the revocation of his suspension from the Assembly...////...