Surat police file charge sheet against Hardik Patel in sedition case

Surat

Police today filed a charge sheet in a local court against Patel agitation spearhead Hardik Patel for sedition and other charges.

The 370-page charge sheet was submitted before Judicial Magistrate J B Rathod of Surat district court on recent directions of the Supreme Court.

The Gujarat government had contended before the Supreme Court on January 5 that Hardik may secure bail if it is not allowed to file the charge sheet by today.

Hardik, 22, convener of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), has been charged with sections 124-A (sedition), 115 (abetment of offence) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) of IPC.

The maximum sentence under sedition charge is life imprisonment while the minimum punishment is three years.

Apart from the charge sheet, documents running into over 600 pages, containing call data records (CDR) and other material, were also submitted to the court, said public prosecutor Nayan Sukhadwala.

The case of sedition was filed against Hardik at Amroli police station here in October last year for his allegedly controversial remarks instigating a youth of his community to kill police personnel instead of committing suicide, against the backdrop of the Patel quota agitation.

“If you have so much courage.. .then go and kill a couple of policemen. Patels never commit suicide,” Hardik had allegedly told one Vipul Desai, who had announced that he would kill himself in support of the agitation.

Patels had held violent protests last year in the state demanding reservation in government jobs and educational institutes under OBC quota.

“Apart from the transcript of Hardik’s alleged talk with Desai, the charge sheet also carries purported WhatsApp conversations between Hardik and other Patel leaders, wherein he allegedly made derogatory remarks against some state political leaders including Chief Minister Anandiben Patel,” said Sukhadwala.

Police have also attached intercepted telephonic conversations of Hardik and others.

“Through these evidences, police tried to prove that Hardik tried to incite youths to resort to violence during agitation,” added Sukhadwala.

Surat police had earlier filed an FIR against Hardik also charging him under section 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups) of IPC, but the Gujarat High Court struck down the charge while upholding the sedition charge.

Ahmedabad crime branch had also filed a second separate case of sedition against Hardik and four of his associates.

Hardik is currently lodged at Lajpor jail near here.

“The case against Hardik is triable in sessions court.

Hardik will be produced in court on January 11 when he will be served the copy of the charge sheet. The case will later transferred to sessions court for further action,” Sukhadwala said.

PTI

Not received copy of the charge sheet – Hardik’s Advocate
Surat

The copy of the charge sheet filed by the crime branch of Surat police here against jailed Patidar reservation stir leader Hardik Patel in a sedition case lodged in Amroli police station for his instigating remarks against police has not yet been handed over to his local advocate.

Hardik’s advocate Yashvantsinh Vala said that he expected to receive the copy on next date of his clients production in the court on January 11.

‘I have learnt that a copy of the chargesheet has been sent to Kapil Sibbal, who represents him in the apex court, as per the court’s earlier directive which also stipulated the filing of charge sheet by January 8,’ he said.

Meanwhile the around 370 page charge sheet filed in the court of first class judicial magistrate Ms J B Rathod has sections 124-A (sedition), 115 (abatement of offence) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) of the Indian Penal Code. There were other supporting documents of over 600 pages with it including various statements and evidences.

Public Prosecutor N Sukhadwala said that the FSL report on the voice spectorgrapy test of the Patidar leader was also attached with the charge sheet.

The case was filed for Hardik’s sensational remarks in front of media on October 3 while talking to one of his supporters who had threatened to commit suicide in which he had allegedly suggested him to kill 2 or 5 policemen rather than killing self.

Gujarat High Court had struck down some sections including 153 A (causing enmity between various groups ) from the original FIR.

Hardik can face life imprisonment if proved guilty of sedition.

A separate case of sedition had also been filed against the 22 year old leader and five of his associates by the crime branch of Ahmedabad police for his role in the violent agitation.

DeshGujarat