Gujarat high court gave relief to pro-quota Patidar leader Hardik Patel on Wednesday and ordered to stay on the 2-year jail term sentence given by a lower court in a 2015 rioting case.
The stay given by Gujarat High Court judge Justice S H Vora would remain valid till next hearing. The court has not yet fixed the date for the next hearing.
Hardik, another pro-quota leader lalaji Patel of Sardar Patel Group and others were charged for vandalizing the office of former BJP MlA Rushikesh Patel during a rally organised by Patidar community members to demand reservation to Patels in government jobs and educational institutions under OBC category.
In the FIR filed in 2015, it was mentioned that a mob of more than 500 people turned violent and vandalized officer of the then BJP MlA.
last month a local court of Visnagar town in North Gujarat had sentenced Hardik, lalji and AK Patel another pro-quota leader for two years jail in the case.
The 14 other persons, who were also booked for rioting, arson, damage to property and unlawful assembly, were however let free.
The 25-year-old leader further said that he and other Patidar community members were fighting for truth and if he raised the issue related to people, they (ruling party) dubbed him as rebel.
“In this case I don’t mind to become rebel,” he went on to say.