Journalism of Courage
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)’s International Working President Pravin Togadia on Tuesday made startling revelations at a press conference in Ahmedabad, claiming that he received a tip-off that he will be killed in a police encounter. This comes a day after he went “missing” to purportedly evade arrest in a more than a decade-old case. (Source: Express photo by Javed Raja)
Pravin Togadia said, “While I was offering Pooja yesterday morning, one person entered my office and said that I will be killed in police encounter.” (Source: Express photo by Javed Raja)
“I left office when I came to know that Rajasthan police had come to arrest me. I left office thinking my arrest would lead to chaos. I switched off my phone and went to Thaltej to an activists’ office,” the 61-year old VHP leader said. (Source: Express photo by Javed Raja)
Togadia also said, “I contacted all my advocates in Gujarat and Rajasthan. They advised me to surrender before court. So I left for the airport to reach Jaipur. On the way, I fell near Kotarpur. I don’t remember anything else. I was alone covering myself with a shawl to dodge police.” (Source: Express photo by Javed Raja)
“I am not escaping. I have no complaints with Gujarat or Rajasthan police. All I have to say to Gujarat police that why were you going to search my room. Am I a criminal. Have not done anything wrong. I request Crime Branch not to get under political pressure,” he said. On Monday, Togadia was found mysteriously at Kotarpur, close to the Ahmedabad airport. He was then taken to a private hospital in Shahibaug in a “semi-conscious” state, caused by hypoglycemia, according to doctors attending to him. (Source: Express photo by Javed Raja)
