HC wants harassment probe

On August 4, the court permitted Sonal to stay at State Home or Women, Odhav, and later shift to Vikas Gruh, Paldi, here. When the court asked Sonal and her mother Lalitaben, both said that the girl should be allowed to stay with her mother at Navsari. The court gave permission for this, but the petitioner expressed apprehension that she will be pressurised as she intends to marry Ilias.

But police inspector Chandrakant Gandhi, Navsari town police station, submitted that protection has been provided at Lalitaben8217;s residence and assured that protection will be provided at the garment shop where Sonal works. To the petitioner8217;s request to provide police protection to Ilias, the court observed, judge of trial court will arrange for police protection when Ilias is released. Ilias is still in police custody in connection with a case filed by Sonal8217;s mother.

The court observed that it issued direction to DGP in view of submission of Haroobhai Mehta, counsel for the petitioner, that some organisations opposing inter-religious marriages are trying to whip up tension in the society.