Date:04/12/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/12/04/stories/2005120405100300.htm

Karnataka - Bijapur

Warrant issued against Bijapur MLA

Staff Correspondent

Togadia exempted from being present in court Last year, the accused obtained bail after giving an undertaking that they will appear before the court for all hearings related to the case

BIJAPUR: Judicial Magistrate First Class Basavaraj Changate on Saturday issued non-bailable warrant against Bijapur MLA Appasaheb Pattanashetti and eight others accused in a case related to the Virat Hindu Samavesh held in Bijapur in 2003.

The judge issued the warrants after the accused failed to appear before the court for the hearing of the case.

Last year, they obtained bail after giving an undertaking that they will appear before the court for all hearings related to the case.

Shrimant Duddagi and Kashinath Masabinal, former office-bearers of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, are among those against whom warrants have been issued. Both of them are also accused in the Sindagi violence case and are now in judicial custody.

Tulasidas Suryavanshi, the advocate appearing for the accused, pleaded for exemption for the accused from personal appearance but the judge rejected the plea.

However, the judge sanctioned the exemption to Praveen Togadia, international secretary of VHP, on medical grounds.

Dr. Togadia has been charged with making provocative speeches during the samavesh and publishing a book titled Jihad which purportedly hurts the feelings of a community.

The other accused, including Pramod Muthalik, Shiv Sena State unit President, were present in the court. The case will come up for hearing on December 30.