Panaji, Jun 16(TOI): Sriram Sena chief, Pramod Mutalik lawyer on Monday argued before the high court of Bombay at Goa that no evidence or material is submitted by the Goa government to justify its decision to extend the entry ban imposed on Mutalik.

Ridiculing the state government's contention that tourism will be affected if Mutalik is permitted to visit Goa, his counsel advocate Nagesh Takbhate pointed out there was no order banning the petitioner from entering Goa for a period between December 17, 2014 and January 15, 2015 - a peak period during tourist season.

The court heared the plea filed by Mutalik against the ban. The first order restraining Mutalik from entering the state was issued by the district magistrates of North Goa and South Goa on August 19, 2014, for 60 days. The orders were subsequently extended further.

Mutalik's counsel also told the court that the petitioner has been visiting Goa to attend religious events during the last ten years and there have been no criminal cases registered against him.

The lawyer pointed out that the repetitive orders issued against Mutalik by the district magistrates do not comment on the urgency to prevent him from entering Goa. He further raised a query as to how the orders issued by both the district magistrates were identical in nature.

Takbhate said the orders are illegal. "The criminal procedure code does not give any power to extend the ban period," he added.

With regard to an where Sriram Sena activists allegedly assaulted young men and women in a Mangaluru pub in 2009, the lawyer said that petitioner was not present when the incident happened.

The case will be further heard by on Tuesday.

In the last hearing, government counsel S R Rivonkar while justifying the government's decision to not allow Mutalik to visit Goa, stated that the presence of the Sriram Sena chief will disturb communal harmony as he has a track record of making provocative statements. "Goa is peaceful state, and tourism is one of the main economic activities," he stated.