By IANS,
New Delhi : Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) general secretary Pravin Togadia Monday denied he was involved in the funding of Abhinav Bharat suspected to be behind the Sept 29 Malegaon blasts, terming media reports as “false and malafide” and threatened to take legal action for dragging his name into the case.
In a statement, his advocate Dipak Shukla said: “My client firmly denies any funding or involvement related to Abhinav Bharat or any of their affiliated or non-affiliated people in any of their activities.”
A section of the media said arrested Indian Army officer Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit, one of the accused in the blast, has reportedly told the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that Togadia was involved in the formation and funding of the organisation.
The CBI had interrogated Purohit in connection with its investigations into the May 18, 2007 blast at Hyderabad’s Mecca Masjid.
Shukla has also threatened to take legal action against those who are trying to drag Togadia’s name in the Malegaon blast.
“Any attempt by any electronic media, print media, public or private communicators, government or private agency or anyone whosoever to spread the above or any such malafide, false, derogatory and criminally defamatory lies about my client will attract civil and criminal legal action as deemed fit,” he said in a statement.
He warned that politicians indulging in spreading the above matter would also be sued.
“Any political party or politician found to be publicly or privately indulging in spreading the above natured malafide lies about my client will also attract suitable civil and criminal legal action as deemed fit and also will be liable to compensate the damages caused to my client, his organisation, family and family businesses,” Shukla said.