Facebook anti-Modi row: Goa man seeks anticipatory bail

Panaji, May 26 (IANS) A 31-year-old shipping industry professional who faces arrest for his alleged anti-Narendra Modi Facebook post, Monday approached the Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court for anticipatory bail.

Accused Devu Chodankar's lawyer Jatin Naik confirmed that the high court was Monday petitioned for anticipatory bail.

Chodankar was formally summoned twice by police. On Thursday, the district and sessions court in Panaji rejected his anticipatory bail application.

Police here have been accused by the opposition and civil society of being overzealous in their pursuit of Chodankar.

On Sunday, the ruling BJP said opposition politicians could have been using by proxy the Facebook account of Chodankar for uploading posts critical of Modi.

Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Pramod Sawant said police in Congress-ruled Maharashtra also carried out custodial interrogation of Facebook users who had posted controversial remarks.