Narmada Court Denies Bail to AAP MLA Chaitar Vasava in Attempted Murder Case
A Narmada Court in Gujarat has rejected the regular bail plea of Chaitarbhai Damjibhai Vasava, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Dediapada, in connection with a criminal case involving alleged attempt to murder and assault on a government officer.
The bail application was heard by the Additional Sessions Judge- Narmada Atulkumar Vinodbhai Hirpara at Rajpipla. Vasava had been arrested on July 5, 2025, and has been in judicial custody since July 6, after his police remand plea was rejected by the Magistrate and his initial bail application was turned down by the court below.
The FIR against Vasava includes serious charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 109(1) (attempt to murder), 79, 115(2), 118(1), 351(3), 352, and 324(3), filed at the Dediyapada police station.
The prosecution alleged that during a meeting chaired by the Provincial Officer at Dediapada, Vasava displayed aggressive behavior, hurled verbal abuse at women officials, and physically assaulted the complainant, Dediapada taluka panchayat president Sanjay Vasava. He allegedly threw a heavy glass object with the intention to cause fatal injury and later picked up a sharp glass shard, threatening Sanjay with the words, “Today I will kill you.” He also reportedly tore the complainant’s shirt and issued death threats while leaving the venue.
Supporting material included witness statements from multiple government officials present at the meeting, including police officers and local representatives, as well as a Panchnama recording broken glass shards at the scene, described as "irregular, sharp and strong". A medical certificate confirmed no external injuries, but the court held that under Section 109(1) BNS, actual injury is not essential for a charge of attempt to murder.
The prosecution submitted a record of 18 past criminal cases registered against Vasava since 2014, ranging from robbery and assault to inciting suicide, molestation, and obstruction of public officials. Though the defense argued that he had been acquitted in many of those cases, no judgment copies were submitted.
The State also submitted audio and video recordings of threats being issued from supporters demanding Vasava’s release, warning of damage to government buildings and jails if he was not granted bail.
Vasava, through his counsel, claimed political vendetta, pointing to the BJP’s control over the state and central government and highlighting that the complainant is a BJP-backed Taluka Panchayat president. He also argued that his own prior complaint filed at 2 PM was ignored, while the complaint against him was allegedly registered six hours later.
The court, however, held that the cumulative material, including eyewitnesses, Panchnama, prior criminal conduct, and influence as a sitting MLA, rendered bail unjustifiable at this stage.
Even elected representatives are not above the law, the court observed, adding that releasing Vasava on bail would endanger witnesses and embolden future misconduct.
Court therefore rejected the regular bail application, keeping the AAP legislator in judicial custody.
Case Title: Chaitarbhai Damjibhai Vasava vs State