Mumbai: Bombay High Court on Friday permitted, with certain conditions, an event to be held on March 30 in Malegaon on the occasion of Gudi Padwa, where former Member of Parliament (MP) Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur has agreed to speak.
Sadhvi, who is on bail, is one of the several accused facing trial in the 2008 Malegaon blast case.
The local police had not yet granted permission to hold a Virat Hindu Sant Sammelan, said a petition filed by Rahul Bachhav (28), coordinator of Sakal Hindu Samaj, which organised the event proposed to be held between 6pm and 10pm in Malegaon.
His counsel, Subhash Jha, sought permission from HC, saying eminent leaders Sangram Bhandare, Milind Ekbote, Swami Pragyanand Maharaj, president of Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti, Maharashtra, and Nilesh Chandra, founder of Mahavir Mission Trust, Bhagyanagar, were the other speakers.
The local administration from Nashik district collectorate informed HC that if conditions were placed, permission could be granted.
HC thus directed that the event be held for any four hours between 7am and 5pm, while ensuring that no inflammatory or provocative speeches are made.