Ahmedabad

The Gujarat High Court today dismissed the sensational habeas corpus petition filed before it after the midnight of September 22 last year following the mysterious disappearance of the currently jailed Patidar Anamat Aandolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel during a police crackdown after his meeting in Tenpur of Aravalli district in north Gujarat which was held the same day without official permission.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 5000 on the two petitioners Dinesh Patel and Ketan Patel, aides of Hardik Patel.

It also said that if the police wanted to file a case for wrong-doing against the petitioners or others it was free to do so.

However the court did not orderany action against the then counsel of the petitioners and Congress leader B M Mangukiya. The court said that if such conduct continues in future his case may be referred to the bar council.

Hardik’s Counsel Zubin Lokhandwala today said that the court dismissed the petition which in its view has no substance. It said that the case was not well founded.

Mr. Lokhandwala said that the court in its order has mentioned five issue and has not refrained police from initiating any action under charges of perjury in the matter.

Hardik had earlier claimed that he was kidnapped by police like looking plain clothed people after the meeting who left him beside a road in neighbouring Surendranagar district on the very next day i e September 23. They had threatened to kill him if he did not wind up his agitation, the Patel leader had claimed.

Police had however termed these claims baseless.

Earlier, the court had rapped Hardik and his advocate for not coming directly to the court or going to the nearest police station after his mysterious re-appearance on September 23.