12 including Gujarat Congress MLA Pirzada convicted in rioting case

Rajkot: A local court here today awarded one year jail term and Rs 5 thousand fine to 12 Congress leaders including Wankaner MLA Mohamed Pirzada in connection with an over a decade old case lodged for violent protest and damage to government property in the collector’s office here.

The court of woman judicial magistrate R S Rajput also convicted former MLA Indranil Rajyaguru, former M P Devji Fatepara and Chairman of the Rajkot district’s Gopal Dairy which is associated with brand Amul, Govind Ranpariya with similar punishment. Two of the convicted accused former MP Vitthal Radadiya and Popat Jinjariya had died during course of trial which had over 170 named accused and 1500 unknown initially.

According to prosecution the case was lodged in Pradumnanagar police station here on December 4, 2008 after the local Congress leaders indulged in violent protest in the collector office following arrest of the then party MLA Kunvarji Bavaliya (who has now joined BJP and is a minister in the Gujarat government) by the CID-crime in connection with an alleged land scam.

As the quantum of punishment was less than 3 years all the convicts have got bail for appeal against the order in a higher court of law.

Also MLA Pirzada won’t be disqualified as the Representation of Peoples Act requires a conviction with more than 2 years of jail term for that.

The case was lodged under sections 143, 147,149, 186. 188 of the IPC (for unlawful assembly, rioting and violation of a public order etc) and section 3 (7) of the Damage to Public Property Act.