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High Court refuses to quash cases against VHP leaders

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, AUG. 24. The Kerala High Court today declined to quash the criminal cases registered against Praveen Togadia, international general secretary, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and nine State-level leaders of the VHP, in connection with a speech delivered by Mr. Togadia that was conveyed through mobile phone to a meeting organised by the Hindu Aikya Vedi in Thiruvananthapuram on April 10.

Mr. Justice G. Sasidharan dismissed three criminal miscellaneous complaints filed by Mr. Togadia and nine other VHP leaders. The cases were registered for offences punishable under Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code relating to inciting enmity between different groups on the ground of religion and creating disharmony among religious groups.

According to the first information report filed by the police, the speech had "promoted disharmony and a feeling of enmity towards two religious groups". Mr. Togadia had been prohibited by the Collector from entering Thiruvananthapuram and the police were on the lookout for him.

The petitioners had argued that the speech did not incite communal disharmony.

The prosecution contended that the investigation had only started and the proceedings could not be quashed at this stage, for material that would support the allegations had to be collected during the investigation.

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