FIR filed against Pravin Togadia for his 'hate speech'

BHAVNAGAR (GUJARAT): An FIR has been registered against VHP leader Pravin Togadia for "inciting communal passions" after he allegedly asked the locals of a society here to forcibly occupy a house purchased by a Muslim man in Hindu majority area.

"An FIR has been filed against him under sections 153(A), 153(B) and under 188 for violating notification of the Election Commission," District Collector and Returning Officer P K Solanki told a news agency here today.

Section 153(A) of the IPC deals with 'intention to cause disorder, promoting enmity between religious groups and incite people to violence'. Section 153 (B) of the IPC deals with those, who asserts, propagates or publishes that any class of persons by reasons of their being members of any religious, racial, language or regional group or caste or community be denied, or deprived of their rights as citizens of India.

Section 188 deals with disobedience to order duly promulgated by the Election Commission by way of its notification of elections.

The poll panel had asked the district administration to take action against Togadia over his hate speech and also directed to submit action-taken report as soon as possible.

Togadia had allegedly asked his supporters to get vacated the house a Muslim man had purchased in the Hindu-majority locality near Meghani Circle area of Bhavnagar city.

On Saturday, Togadia had allegedly told the gathering, mainly comprising local residents and Bajrang Dal workers, that they should give an ultimatum of 48 hours to the occupant to vacate the house or else they should storm into it, take possession and put up a Bajrang Dal board.

Bhavnagar Police had initiated an inquiry yesterday into the alleged hate speech following the Election Commission orders.

However, the VHP leader had termed the media reports "false, malafide and mischievous" and said he was sending legal notices to media houses.