Dediapada: A fresh controversy has erupted around Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Chaitar Vasava after he was seen slapping a relative of a deceased worker during a heated argument over compensation in Bharuch. The incident, caught on video and widely circulated online, took place outside a chemical factory in Jhagadia GIDC, where a recent fire had claimed two lives.

The altercation occurred when both the MLA and the victim’s family members reached the factory premises to press for compensation. While Vasava maintained that he was supporting the affected families and demanding higher compensation from the company, the victim’s relative accused him of instigating tensions for personal gain. The verbal spat quickly escalated into a physical confrontation before police and bystanders intervened.

Notably, this is the latest in a series of controversies involving Vasava. Just days earlier, he was granted temporary relief by the Gujarat High Court, which allowed him to enter Dediapada taluka in Narmada district until April 30 for campaigning in the ongoing local body elections.

The court had relaxed a bail condition imposed in September 2025 that barred his entry into the area for a year, while cautioning him against any action that could disturb law and order. The case pertains to a 2025 complaint filed by a BJP leader accusing him of abuse and assault during a political altercation, following which he was arrested and later released on bail with restrictions.

Now, with the latest viral incident, the MLA once again finds himself at the centre of controversy amid a charged electoral atmosphere in the state. Notably, these are not isolated incidents; Vasava faces multiple cases and FIRs, including serious allegations such as firing in the air, loot, and attempt to murder.

Here is a timeline of key incidents highlighting Chaitar Vasava’s repeated run-ins with the law and controversies:

March 2025: Vasava attended a wedding in Surat where he was seen dancing alongside a known bootlegger. The episode triggered political criticism, although no formal complaint was registered.

December 2024: Following a fatal blast at Detox India Pvt Ltd that killed four workers, Ankleshwar GIDC police lodged an FIR against Vasava for allegedly obstructing officials and jeopardising public safety during rescue operations. He was accused of encouraging victims’ relatives to enter the hazardous site despite police warnings. Two days prior to this, Rajpardi police had also booked him for organising a padayatra without obtaining prior permission.

November 2024: Vasava announced the formation of the Bhil Pradesh Mukti Morcha, advocating for a separate tribal state, ‘Bhil Pradesh’ encompassing regions of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. He proposed Kevadiya, home to the Statue of Unity, as its capital in a highly divisive move.

September 2024: The MLA, along with around 20 others, was booked for allegedly assaulting a restaurant owner in Dediapada. The dispute reportedly arose after the owner, Shantilal Vasava, demanded payment of a pending bill. An FIR was filed under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, including charges of rioting, assault, and criminal intimidation.

November 2023: Vasava was accused of threatening and assaulting forest department officials and firing a round in the air. A case was registered against him under IPC Section 386. After his anticipatory bail plea was rejected, he remained absconding for over a month before eventually surrendering.

In the same matter, a court later granted him bail with a condition barring his entry into Narmada district. This restriction was lifted in June 2024, enabling him to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Bharuch, where he lost to BJP’s veteran MP Mansukh Vasava.

In another controversial stance, Vasava dismissed allegations of religious conversions by Christian missionaries in Gujarat’s tribal belt, a position critics viewed as appeasement. Speaking at a Christian community event in Navapur near the Gujarat-Maharashtra border in 2023, he stated that accusations of forced conversions against the community were “entirely false and baseless.” His remarks drew criticism, particularly in light of reported conversion-related cases from districts such as Narmada, Dang, and Valsad.

Prior to these incidents, Vasava had accumulated more than 13 police complaints, 10 in Dediapada and one each in Rajpipla, Kevadiya, and Sagbara police stations. He has been booked under a wide range of legal provisions, including IPC sections 143, 147, 148, 149, 323, 354A, 504, 503, 115, 116, 120B, 395, 427, 450, 506(2), 452, 153, 397, 306, 186, 189, 332, 353, 386, 294; Arms Act Section 25(1)(A); IT Act 2008 Section 67A; Disaster Management Act Section 51B; and BNS sections 221, 224, 329(3), 125, 126(2), and 3(5).

Between 2014 and 2022, charges were formally framed against him in 10 separate cases, including allegations of firing in the air, looting, and attempted murder.

May 2023: A Rajpipla court convicted Vasava in a separate case, sentencing him to six months’ simple imprisonment and imposing a fine of ₹1,000 for assaulting a political opponent during a sarpanch election campaign and causing injuries. DeshGujarat