Court declines anticipatory bail to Swami Agnivesh for 'hurting religious sentiments'

CHANDIGARH: An additional district and sessions court on Friday dismissed the plea for anticipatory bail of Swami Agnivesh, an Arya Samaj leader and ex-member of Team Anna, who is facing a criminal case against him.

The decision came from the court of Pardeep Kumar, additional district and sessions judge on the application for concession of bail moved by Swami Agnivesh last week.

Appearing on the behalf of Agnivesh, the defense counsel said the Arya Samaj leader is willing to help the investigators.

At the same time, the defense counsel also insisted that the criminal case was not maintainable as the controversial statement on the basis of which case was registered was made at Srinagar.

Notably, the Arya Samaj leader is booked in a police case against him at police station Hansi of district Hisar. A case under sections 295 and 295A of IPC was made against him on the complaint of human rights activist and social worker Praveen Tayal.

In his complaint to police, Tayal had accused Agnivesh of hurting religious sentiments by making remarks on Amarnath Yatra.