Surat: Hardik Patel aide and Surat convener of Hardik Patel led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti(PAAS) Alpesh Kathiriya’s anticipatory bail plea has been rejected by Surat district court.

After arrest warrant issued by Detection of Crime Branch(DCB) of Surat Police, Alpesh had filed anticipatory bail plea through his lawyer. Principal District and Sessions Judge RK Desai, after hearing Alpesh’s advocate Yashwant Vala and Government lawyer Nayan Sukhadwala’s arguments decided to reject Alpesh anticipatory bail plea.

Surat Police had filed sedition case against Alpesh Kathiriya, Hardik Patel, Vipul Desai and Chirag Desai in year 2015 case.

It’s worth noting that Alpesh is already in judicial custody (jail) after his arrest two-month ago by Ahmedabad Police in another case of sedition. He has been kept in Lajpore jail in Surat. To prevent his arrest in another sedition case filed in Surat, his lawyer had filed anticipatory bail plea.

Generally, when an accused is arrested in multiple cases at different geographical locations, his/her release becomes very difficult. Alpesh is facing difficulties in getting bail in existing case of sedition for which he is in jail. Even if he somehow manages to get bail in first case, his arrest in second case may continue to keep him in jail for another long period.

The city of Surat had witnessed large-scale violence during year 2015 under the leadership of Alpesh locally and Hardik Patel at state level. Incidents of violence such as burning of public buses had continued on various occasions in Patidar community populated Varachha area even post August 2015.

DeshGujarat