Firebrand Patidar Anamat Anadolan Samiti (PAAS) convener, Hardik Patel, has been arrested by Surat Police under two serious charges including sedition and insulting the national flag on Monday.
Official sources said a case of sedition under Section 124 A of IPC has been registered against the pro-quota stir leader by Surat police for advising other pro-quota agitators to “kill policemen instead of committing suicide”.
The PAAS convener was seen in a video-clip advising a PAAS worker — Vipul Desai, not to commit suicide but rather kill policemen for the interest of Patidars around fortnight ago. Desai had reportedly threatened to kill himself in support of reservation for his fellow Patidars who are agitating for reservation in education and Government jobs under OBC category.
In order to stop him committing suicide Hardik visited Desai’s house and said: “If you have so much courage…then go and kill a couple of policemen. Patels never commit suicide.” The clipping of the conversation was later become viral on social media.
Another case for insulting the national flag was filed by Adivasi Kisan Sangharsh Morcha national president Romel Sutaria with the Vyara Police Station in Tapi district.
In the complaint Sutaria alleged that PAAS convenor Hardik held the national flag upside down. Sutaria also submitted a video clip showing him waving Indian flag outside Khaduri stadium on the outskirts of Rajkot during India-South Africa One Day International cricket match on Sunday afternoon.
The case was later transferred to Rajkot Police for further action as the incident had taken place in Rajkot.
Hardik was detained on Sunday by Rajkot Police minutes before the cricket match between India and South Africa under Section 68 of Gujarat Police Code, which allows police to detain a person to prevent him or her from causing any trouble at a public event.
The police later released him. However, Rajkot police again booked him for insulting the national flag under Section 2 of National Flag Code, and on Monday he was produced before the District Court.
The 22-year-old was later given bail by the court. Rajkot SP Gagandeep Gambhir said Hardik agreed before the court that he had committed a blunder and he was released on bail on Rs10,000 bond.
As soon as the pro-quota leader was released on the bail, the Surat police again arrested him under sedition charges. He has been taken to Surat as the incident of alleged attempt provoking Desai to kill policemen occurred in Surat.
“The police have been tailing Hardik anywhere he travels in the State for a long time. Why did they not arrest him or file case against him earlierIJ Why is it that they are now trying to book him under one or the other pretextIJ It appears State Government is now trying to instigate Patel community and prove that the time is not ripe to hold local body polls in the State,” claimed Hardik’s advocate BM Mangukia alleging that it was a well planned ploy of State Government to harass his client under on or other pretext.