Court drops attempt to murder charges against Togadia following Gujarat govt request

A metropolitan court in Ahmedabad has dropped all charges against Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader, Pravin Togadia and 38 others in a two decade old case.

It may be recalled that a few days back the same court had issued non-bailable warrants against Togadia and the other accused while directing to appear before the court. "The order was pronounced, exonerating all the 39 accused in the case," said Public Prosecutor Y K Vyas.

The government lawyer told the magistrate that the state government was not in the favour of fighting the case.

The magistrate acceded to the request for withdrawal of case and acquitted all the 39 accused.

The case pertains to a Bharatiya Janata Party event at Sardar Patel Stadium on May 20, 1996. After then BJP member Shankarsinh Vaghela revolted against then Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel, Kesbhubhai loyalists attacked Atmaram Patel, then senior BJP leader, and those believed to be loyal to Vaghela.

Dubbing the entire incident a conspiracy, Togadia had cried foul and said that the police never delivered him summons despite him having Z+ security apparatus. Togadia had then gone missing for ten hours in an another case. He was later found in a hospital, from where he hit out at BJP government, accusing it of plotting an "encounter" on him.

OneIndia News