Hardik Patel finally released on bail

Ahmedabad: Former convener of Patidar quota agitation outfit Patidar Anamat Aandolan Samiti (PAAS) and Congress leader Hardik Patel who was re-arrested soon after his release from the Sabarmati central jail here yesterday in connection with two cases of violation of administrative notification was finally released today after getting bail.

He was arrested seven days back ie January 18 after a local court had issued non-bailable warrant (NBW) against him in a sedition case, and was granted bail by the court on January 22 in that matter. But he was again arrested in connection with a case of violation of a public order in Mansa town of Gandhinagar soon after his release from the jail yesterday. He was taken to a court there and after getting bail the Sidhhpur police in Patan district of North Gujarat took his custody this morning for production in a court there in connection with another case of violation of administrative orders/notification in 2017.

Police Inspector of Siddhpur V S Patel said that he was produced in a judicial magistrate court which granted him bail after which he was released.

The sedition case was lodged by the crime branch of Ahmedabd police for the widespread violence that erupted after his Patidar quota rally here on the GMDC ground on August 25, 2015.

Hardik was earlier arrested from near Hansalpur crossing in his home-taluka of Viramgam of Ahmedabad districts on January 18, the day the NBW was issued by the court of Additional Sessions Judge B J Ganatra. He was sent to jail under judicial custody the same night.The NBW was issued due to his repeated non-appearance on the dates of hearing in the sedition case.

His counsel said that Hardik would remain present in the court on the next date of hearing ie January 24.

Hardik was booked in another sedition case in Surat for his alleged provocative suggestion to his aides to kill policemen and he was also on bail in that matter. He was jailed in these cases and had also spent six months outside Gujarat as part of his bail condition. Several government run buses, police stations were torched and other public property including railway tracks damaged during the violence that had erupted after the rally in Ahmedabad. The crime branch of the city police in its charge sheet alleged that Hardik and his aides had spread the violence under a conspiracy.

There were numerous other cases also lodged against the former PAAS leader.

DeshGujarat