Court denies anticipatory bail to gun-totting Cong MP

A local court on Wednesday rejected anticipatory bail application of Congress MP Vitthal Radadia who was booked last week after he brandished a gun at the operators of a toll both near here for avoiding paying toll.

Additional District and Sessions Court Judge B V Gohil turned down Radadia's plea saying charges against the MP are of serious nature and cited past criminal cases pending against the MP.

Radadia's counsel I U Patel told PTI that the order will be challenged in the high court. "We will challenge the order in the Gujarat high court on receipt of the copy of the local court's judgment," Patel said.

Radadia, the Lok Sabha MP from Porbandar, was booked under various sections of Indian Penal Code for rioting, issuing death threats, and also under the Arms Act for brandishing his double-barreled shotgun at toll plaza attendants who dared him to show his identity card before waiving payment.

Five more persons were also booked along with the MP.

Enraged after the toll plaza attendant insisted on an original I-card after the MP's driver had shown a photocopy, Radadia flashed the gun stalking the area in front of the tollbooth and repeatedly tapped the glass enclosure with the barrel.

The FIR was filed against him by the Vadodara rural police on the basis of CCTV footage following a complaint by the manager of the private company managing the booth.

Patel earlier argued in the court against booking the MP under Arms Act saying he holds a firearm license.