The Gujarat High Court dismissed the habeas corpus filed before it after the midnight of September 22 last year following the mysterious disappearance of the 22-year-old Patel reservation stir leader Hardik Patel.
Patel is also convener of Patidar Anamat Aandolan Samiti (PAAS). At present, he is in Surat jail for various cases related to pro-quota agitation including a case of sedition.
Habeas corpus petition was filed against Hardik following a public meeting in Tenpur village in North Gujarat district Aravalli. There the young pro-quota leader addressed a gathering without taking permission from concerned authority.
While dismissing the petition on Friday the court imposed a fine of `5000 on the two petitioners — Dinesh Patel and Ketan Patel who are also close aides of the PAAS convener. As far as the then advocate of Hardik Patel, BM Mangukia is concerned; the court said that if such conduct continues in future, his case may be referred to the Bar Council.
“The court dismissed the petition on Friday. It has no substance as it was not well founded. The court in its order has mentioned five issues and has not refrained police from initiating any action under charges of perjury in the matter,” said PAAS convener’s Counsel Zubin lokhandwala.
According to lokhandwala earlier Hardik had said that he was kidnapped by people who were in police uniform after he left the venue of meeting at Tenpur. “Those who kidnapped Hardik, took him to Surendranagar and later on dropped him from vehicle on the road. They also threatened him to kill in case he would not stop agitating for reservation to Patels under OBC category,” he added.