Ashok Singhal charged with violating poll conduct

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad's international president Ashok Singhal has been charged with violating the model code of conduct for holding a meeting in UP's Gorakhpur district without permission from the local administration.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad's (VHP) international president Ashok Singhal has been charged with violating the model code of conduct for holding a meeting in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur district without permission from the local administration.

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"For defying the model code of conduct we have prepared a report against Singhal and have today (Thursday) submitted it to the returning officer," city magistrate RS Gupta told IANS over phone.

Singhal had presided over the meeting on April 5 at a school in Gorakhpur, about 270 km from Lucknow.

"Singhal neither informed us about the meeting nor took the necessary permission from district authorities for organising it," said Gupta.

The meeting was in violation of the order under Indian Penal Code's Section 144 (unlawful assembly) clamped in the district in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls, he added.

A police complaint may also be registered after getting the district magistrate's approval.