Gujarat HC Grants Bail to Chaitar Vasava’s Wife, 4 Others in Forest Officer Assault Case

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court has granted bail to five convicts, including Shakuntala Vasava, the wife of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Dediapada MLA Chaitar Vasava, in the 2023 case involving the assault of a Forest Department officer. The relief comes weeks after a Narmada court sentenced nine accused, including Chaitar Vasava and his wife, to seven years’ imprisonment.

The case dates back to 2023, when Forest Department officials allegedly removed cotton crops grown on encroached forest land and auctioned the seized produce. The FIR alleged that Chaitar Vasava summoned a Forest Department officer to his residence over the land dispute, assaulted and threatened him, and demanded ₹60,000 as compensation. Investigators further claimed that the MLA abused the officials, threatened to break their limbs, asked for a revolver from his under-construction house, and fired a round in the air. The complaint also alleged that the forest employees were forced to withdraw money from an ATM and hand it over to a farmer after being threatened.

A trial court in Narmada, while delivering its verdict on June 23, convicted all nine accused, including Chaitar Vasava and Shakuntala Vasava, under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including unlawful assembly, obstruction of a public servant, criminal intimidation, and extortion, along with Section 25 of the Arms Act. The court sentenced each of them to seven years’ imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹25,000.

Following the conviction, Shakuntala Vasava and four other convicts approached the Gujarat High Court seeking suspension of sentence and bail pending appeal. After hearing the matter, the High Court granted bail to Shakuntala Vasava, Ramesh Vasava, Mariam Vasava, Baliram Vasava, and Mograben Vasava.

While granting relief, the High Court observed that these five appellants were not the principal accused in the incident and that there was no allegation of them causing injuries to anyone. Chaitar Vasava, who is alleged to have fired the shot and issued threats, has not been granted bail in this order.

DeshGujarat