Ajmer: VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) leader Praveen Togadia, presently in judicial custody, on April 18 sought protection from the court apprehending threat to his life.

An application in this connection was moved before additional chief judicial magistrate Indu Pareek by Togadia's counsel Onkar Singh Lakhawat.

The application quoted remarks purportedly made by Inspector General of Police A K Jai that "Togadia would be dealt with in an encounter" and also referred special public prosecutor S R Bajwa telling the court on April 16 that "Praveen Togadia had come to Rajasthan to become a martyr".

The application noted the jail authorities had refused permission to VHP president Ashok Singhal and Togadia's relative Mohan Bhagwat to meet him in judicial custody.

It demanded that a health bulletin about Togadia's condition in jail should be issued daily with a specialist doctor checking Togadia's diabetic condition, and his blood samples be taken daily and sent to specialised lab for testing any poisonous substance or slow poison in them.

It said Togadia was lodged in Ajmer central jail where several TADA (Terrorists and Disruptive Activities-prevention Act) detenue were among the other inmates who can physically harm the VHP leader.

Togadia's counsel told the court that a complaint regarding police official's "threat to deal Togadia in an encounter" was lodged with the Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot by fax on April 13 but the state government was deliberately taking no action.

PTI