2013 Muzaffarnagar riots: Sadhvi Prachi surrenders before court

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (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 the court in connection with the case while BJP MLA Sangeet Som had surrendered on January 19th.

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

It is alleged that the accused participated in Nadala Mador mahapanchayat meeting and incited violence, through their speeches in the last week of August of 2013.

The other accused submitted exemption applications through their lawyer, which the court allowed and fixed the next date of hearing on February 21.

The communal clashes in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas in August and September of 2013 had left over 63 dead and rendered over 55,000 homeless.