2013 riots case: Sadhvi Prachi surrenders in court

Muzaffarnagar, Feb 18: VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi on Thursday surrendered in a court here after successive warrants were issued against her for failure to appear in connection with a 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots case.

The court recalled the bailable warrant issued against her after she furnished a bond of Rs 20,000 and gave an undertaking that she will appear on the next date of hearing in the case.

The court had issued a fresh warrant against her after she failed to appear before it on January 23 despite an earlier warrant that directed her to appear before it in connection with the same case on December 18.

In December last year, Union minister Sanjeev Baliyan, BJP MLA Suresh Rana, BJP MP Bhartendu Singh and four others had surrendered in a court here in connection with the case while BJP MLA Sangeet Som had surrendered on January 19 this year.

The court will hear the case on February 23. The accused are facing charges under various sections of IPC for violating prohibitory orders, deterring public servants from discharging their duties and wrongful restraint.

The accused allegedly participated in Nadala Mador mahapanchayat meeting and incited violence through their speeches in the last week of August 2013.

The communal clashes in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas in August and September 2013 had claimed 60 lives and displaced over 40,000 people.

PTI