NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition of controversial activist Pramod Muthalik (52), notorious for his moral policing, challenging the Goa Government’s order banning his entry in Goa.
The Bench of Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justice Amitava Roy held that the order banning his entry was justified and put on record: “Let him not enter Goa for the time being — for six months.”
Muthalik, the leader of the fringe outfit Sri Ram Sene that attacked young pub-goers, mostly women, in Mangalore in 2009, was banned entering Goa in August last year over concerns expressed by the police. His petition challenging the ban order was also dismissed by the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court.
Upholding the High Court’s July decision, the Bench said, “The High Court is justified in stopping you.” It went on to ask Muthalik’s lawyer Vishnu Jain, “”What are you doing in Mangalore? Are you doing moral policing? Beating up girls at a pub in Mangalore?” He had moved the petition for stay of the High Court order.
Muthalik had challenged the High Court ban saying it was “orchestrated by an invisible hand operating from Goa or New Delhi.” His lawyer said: “The reasons given by districts police chiefs to prohibit his entry were certainly prompted by corrupt motives to appease political masters and to suit the political ambitions of a person operating from Goa and/or New Delhi.”
He said repeated prohibitory orders since last year violated his fundamental rights, as he wanted to visit the BJP-ruled State for religious purposes.
Muthalik had lept to the spotlight in 2009 after his Sri Ram Sene men were seen dragging women out of a pub by hair, slapping and abusing them. Visuals of the assault had provoked a nationwide revulsion.
His lawyer complained of discrimination as he was prohibited from entering Goa while no such ban was imposed on other controversial persons like All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi and his brother Akbaruddin Owaisi and social activist Binayak Sen.
