Maldivian opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed, who was forced to step down as president last year, went to the Indian High Commission here Tuesday after a court issued an arrest order for failing to attend a hearing in the illegal detention of a judge, Maldivian media reported.
Nasheed went to the Indian High Commission Tuesday, reported sun.mv online news portal, but it was not clear whether he had sought sanctuary in the Indian mission.
A large number of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) supporters gathered on hearing the news.
Nasheed entered the Indian High Commission as the Hulhumal court issued an arrest order for Nasheed to be brought to court after he failed to attend the last scheduled hearing over last year's detention of the Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed.
A sense of uncertainty has gripped the Maldives ever since Nasheed resigned Feb 7 last year followed what he alleged was a coup. Mohammed Waheed Hassan succeeded him.
Nasheed faced protests over his decision to sack Abdulla Mohamed.
Nasheed later claimed that he was forced to quit at gun-point and urged the international community to help restore "democracy" in the South Asian archipelago.