Sangh Samachar
Ashok Singhal granted bail
FOC
Shri Harish Yadav, Judicial Magistrate of Aligarh, granted bail to VHP president Shri Ashok on two sureties of Rs 20,000 each.
As Shri Singhal reached the border of Aligarh, thousands of Bajrang Dal and VHP activists thronged around him. Later, addressing the activists Shri Prakash Sharma, convenor of Bajrang Dal, said that they fully honour the judiciary and that is why Shri Singhal reached Aligarh to appear before the court just reading the news in newspapers. He said those who claim honouring the judiciary, must see that Abdullah Bukhari, former Imam of Delhi'sJama Masjid, should also be arrested against whom non-bailable warrants had been issued. After the meeting, Shri Singhal went to the court with thousands of supporters. After hearing both the parties, the magistrate announced his decision of granting bail.
This criminal case was filed by one Khurshidurahaman of Aligarh on June 5, 1989 following Shri Singhal'sinterview published in April 30, 1989 issue of Panchjanya. The complained was against four people-Shri Ashok Singhal, Shri Mukesh Kaushik, Panchjanya correspondent, Shri Hemandas Motwani, publisher and Shri Ramshankar Agnihotri, managing editor.
In the case, the judicial magistrate had issued necessary order on February 27, 1990, which was stayed by High court in December 1990. Now withdrawing the stay order, the High Court directed the Judicial Magistrate of Aligarh to further proceed in the case and dispose off it, if possible, within six months. Following his directions, the Judicial Magistrate issued non-bailable warrant against Shri Singhal on July 23, 2005 and directed him to appear before the court on August 27. The other three persons were only issued summons. It is said that earlier too summons were sent to Shri Singhal to appear in the court but they neither reached him nor returned to the court. Therefore, he could not know which date had been fixed by the court for hearing. That is why the court reportedly issued non-bailable warrant.
