Mehsana

Gujarat Cabinet Minister Nitin Patel and two other BJP leaders were today acquitted by a local court in a case of alleged breach of model code of conduct during the 2007 Assembly polls.

Additional Civil Judge of Kadi taluka H J Tanna let off Patel and two others by giving them the benefit of doubt as the prosecution failed to provide any substantial evidence to back their case.

Along with Patel, who handles the Health portfolio among others, two BJP leaders of Kadi – Lalji Patel and Arvind Kapadia – were also booked for alleged breach of model code of conduct in November 2007.

It was alleged that Nitin Patel, who was the BJP candidate from Kadi seat, along with Lalji and Kapadia, had organised an election rally in Luharkui area of the town and they used unparliamentary language while targeting Congress.

At that time, Gujarat Congress had complained to the election authorities that Nitin Patel and others violated the poll code by making derogatory remarks about the party and its leaders.

Based on the complaint, Kadi mamlatdar (a taluka-level government officer) lodged an FIR against the trio.

Absolving them in the case, the court said the prosecution failed to provide any substantial evidence like video recording of the speech.

PTI