HC upholds Praveen Togadia ban

BENGALURU: The high court on Friday refused to stay the Bengaluru police commissioner's order banning VHP leader Praveen Togadia's entry into the city till February 11. Togadia was scheduled to participate in the Virat Hindu Samajotsava to be held at National College Grounds in Basavanagudi, south Bengaluru, on February 8. "Prima facie, I am of the view that the order issued by the police commissioner cannot be termed patently illegal or that it has been passed with ulterior motives. I am %also of the view that this is not a fit case for grant of interim order of stay of the impugned order. The prayer made by the petitioner for grant of interim order is rejected," Justice S Abdul Nazeer said in his ruling. The court also rejected the averments made by Togadia and other petitioners claiming non-application of mind and questioning the jurisdiction of the police commissioner to issue such an order under section 144(3) of CrPC.