New Delhi, March 5
Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed was arrested today ahead of his trial on the charge of abusing office at a magistrate court tomorrow.

Tension mounted in the archipelago, as Nasheed was taken into custody after failing to attend a hearing and ignoring two arrest warrants, local media quoted police as saying.

Reacting to the arrest, an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said New Delhi was closely monitoring the situation in the Maldives. ''India expects due process and the rule of law would be followed,''

India urged all concerned to exercise caution and restraint and not to resort to any violence or extra-constitutional means and steps which would weaken the democratic system. "We have been informed that former President Nasheed's lawyers and family are going to meet him now as allowed by the authorities," the spokesman added.

He is accused of illegally ordering the arrest of a top judge in January last year. The incident sparked unrest which saw Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected leader, to resign in February 2012.

Nasheed's latest trial hearing follows his exit from the Indian High Commission after taking refuge there for eleven days last month. He came out of the high commission premises after the Maldivian and the Indian governments came to an' understanding' that he would be able to participate in the elections in September.

Nasheed has maintained that the charges against him are politically motivated and aimed at preventing him from contesting the elections.