No entry for Togadia in Bangalore; HC refuses to stay ban

Pravin Togadia

The Karnataka High Court on Friday refused to grant a stay on an entry ban into Bangalore imposed against Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Pravin Togadia by the Bangalore City police. A single judge of the high court Justice S Abdul Nazeer ruled that there was no illegality in the ban order issued against Togadia by police commissioner M N Reddi.

Togadia was seeking to participate at the golden jubilee conclave of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) to be held at the National College grounds in Bangalore on Sunday. The Bangalore police banned Togadia from entering the city stating that Togadia tends to make provocative statements in public gatherings which hurt religious sentiments. The entry ban on the VHP leader was issued under CrPC section 144 (3), for a week from February 5. The VHP leader approached the High Court terming the police commissioner’s order arbitrary and unconstitutional.

[related-post]

Meanwhile in the wake of the ban on entry to Praveen Togadia the Bangalore police have gone on a high alert to prevent the VHP head from entering the city surreptitiously. Additional Commissioner of Police (law and order) Alok Kumar said all vehicles entering the city would be checked.