Gujarat HC refuses to accept Hardik Patel’s plea seeking relief in weekly appearance before crime branch in Surat

Surat: The Gujarat High Court today refused to accept an application regarding modification in the bail conditions for PAAS convener Hardik Patel in two sedition cases lodged against him by the crime branches of Surat and Ahmedabad during violent quota stir led by him.

As per the bail conditions after his return to Gujarat (after spending six months), as per the bail condition Hardik has to appear before Surat Crime Branch on every Thursday while before Ahmedabad Crime Branch on every Monday. He has prayed to the court to grant him relief and let him make his weekly appearance in Ahmedabad only.

The court of justice A J Desai refused to entertain his application saying that Hardik himself had given an undertaking regarding staying outside the state for six months and making regular appearances before Crime Branch in Surat and Ahmedabad for the next six months after his return.

Hardik’s advocate Rafik Lokhandwala said that he withdrew his application after the observation of the court. ‘The court said that one month has already passed and there are only five more months to be spent,’ he said.

Lokhandwala said that the application was put forth to get some relief for his client (Hardik), who lives in Viramgam (his native place) close to Ahmedabad.

Surat Crime Branch had registered a sedition case in Amroli police station in October 2015 against Hardik for advising a youth to kill policemen rather than committing suicide. Later the same month Ahmedabad Crime Branch registered another sedition case against him in connection with the violent quota stir. He was granted bail in July 2016 by the High Court and left Gujarat for six months.He returned to Gujarat on January 17 this year after spending six months outside the state as per his bail conditions.

DeshGujarat