New Delhi:
Controversial activist Pramod Muthalik, notorious for his moral policing, has been denied permission to enter Goa by the Supreme Court, which today said an order banning him from the popular holiday destination was justified.
Muthalik, the leader of the fringe outfit Sri Ram Sene that attacked young pub-goers, mostly women, in Mangalore in 2009, was banned from Goa in August over concerns expressed by the police.
Supporting that decision, the Supreme Court today said: "What are you doing in Mangalore? Are you doing moral policing? Beating up girls at a pub in Mangalore? The High court is justified in stopping you. Let him not enter Goa for the time being - for six months."
Muthalik had challenged the high court ban saying it was "orchestrated by an invisible hand operating from Goa or New Delhi."
He said that repeated prohibitory orders since last year violated his fundamental rights as he wanted to visit the BJP-ruled state for religious purposes.
The 52-year-old activist leapt to the spotlight in 2009 after his men were seen dragging women out of a pub by hair, slapping and abusing them. Visuals of the assault provoked nationwide anger.
To put across his argument today, Muthalik referred to persons like All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi and his brother Akbaruddin Owaisi and social activist Binayak Sen, saying they had not been banned from Goa.
"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," his lawyer said.