Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod

Kasargod, Dec 13: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) international working president Pravin Togadia has been declared an absconder by the Hosadurga first class court in connection to a case.

Togadia was accused of making a provocative speech at a VHP convention in Kanhangad on April 30, 2011. The Hosadurga police had booked him for trying to create communal tension through his speech.

Togadia was then issued summons to appear before the court, but he failed to do so. Despite warrants, Togadia did not appear in the court, and thus, the Hosagurga court has now declared him as an absconding accused.

During the last hearing in the case, the court issued a non-bailable warrant against him. On Saturday, the police told the court that they were unable to trace Togadia. Hence, the court decided to pronounce him as an absonder.

Another case had been registered against Togadia for making a provocative speech at Marad in Kozhikode during a VHP convention in July 2003. However, the state government recently withdrew this case, sparking much controversy. Chief minister Oommen Chandy had later clarified that the case was withdrawn as part of a Marad peace deal, and it was done after reviewing the legal procedures.