Hardik’s bail plea junked in ‘larger interest’

Ahmedabad: The sessions court here on Friday rejected bail pleas of Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel and two of his aides, who are behind the bars in a sedition case, obeserving that they may resort to similar unlawful activities and disturb law and order sitatuion in Gujarat.

Additional Sessions Judge N G Dave dismissed the bail pleas in the second sedition case filed against Hardik and others saying that the “court cannot exercise discretion..In favour of the applicants in the larger interest of the society.”

Hardik and his aides Dinesh Bambhaniya and Chirag Patel, who are facing sedition charges and are at present lodged in jail, had filed their bail application last month.

While rejecting their bail plea, the court noted that prima facie a case of sedition does exist against the applicants.

The court was satisfied with the crime branch’s contention that the accused should not be released on bail looking at the serious charges they are facing.

“Considering the role played by the applicants and the role played by them, this court is not inclined to exercise its discretion in favour of the applicants..Hence, these applications are hereby rejected,” stated the order.

Yesterday, Surat sessions court had also rejected Hardik’s bail plea in another sedition case filed against him by Surat police for allegedly inciting a fellow activist “to kill policmen instaed of committing suicide.”

The city crime branch charged Hardik and five of his key aides under Indian Penal Code sections 121 (waging war against government), 124 (sedition), 153-A (promoting enmity between different communities) and 153-B (assertions prejudicial to national integrity).

However, the Gujarat High Court had recently removed section 121, 153-A and 153-B from the FIR.

 

—-PTI