Gujarat High Court Permits BJP Leader Hardik Patel To Enter Mehsana
In his plea before the high court, Patel stated that due to the restriction, he is unable to fulfil the political obligation cast upon him.
The Gujarat High Court has permitted Bhartiya Janta Party leader Hardik Patel to enter the Mehsana district. Court relaxed the restriction for a period of one year which was imposed as a bail condition on Patel by a sessions court in 2018 in a criminal case.
The bench of Justice S H Vora permitted the relaxation until Nov 7, 2023, after the state government said that it had no objection if the restriction was removed.
Patel had filed an application before the high court stating that since he is a social worker and aspiring candidate to contest the upcoming Gujarat Assembly Election for the Member of Legislative Assembly, he needed to travel frequently in various parts of Gujarat including Mehsana district for campaigning and fulfilling the political obligation.
The application further stated that due to the restriction, he is unable to attend social and religious functions in the district.
In 2015, when Patel carried out a huge rally along with youth from the Patidar community seeking reservations for the community, an attack on the office of present health minister Rushikesh Patel took place. In the criminal case in connection with the incident, Patel was convicted by the Visnagar court for rioting and arson. He was convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment.
During the trial in the case, Patel was granted bail by the trial court on a condition that he would not enter the Mehsana district. After his conviction, this condition was maintained by the Gujarat High Court, which allowed him bail. Notably, the high court had suspended the sentence but the conviction still remained. Later on, the Apex Court suspended the conviction as well.
Case Title: Hardik Bharatbhai Patel vs State of Gujarat