Vadodara: Shailesh Mehta (Sotta), the Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Dabhoi, has been acquitted by the High Court in a case related to riots that occurred 28 years ago.

Back in the year 2000, the Vadodara Sessions Court had sentenced Shailesh Sotta and five others to a one-year sentence for their involvement in the rioting that took place in 1995.

The incident dates back 28 years when a team of Zilla Panchayat members, accompanied by the Panigat Police, visited the Waghodia Road area to defuse some ongoing tensions with the shepherds. During that time, the police resorted to firing 8 rounds, as well as using lathi charge and tear gas to control the mob. Subsequently, Panigate police registered a case of rioting and attempted murder, charging a total of 28 individuals. Shailesh Sotta, who was a Congress corporator of Waghodia Road at that time, was also arrested after coming to the aid of the people.

In the recent hearing held at the Gujarat High Court on Thursday, Shailesh Mehta (Sotta) was acquitted in this 28-year-old case. Advocate Hitesh Gupta appeared as the counsel for the accused. DeshGujarat