The Gujarat High Court on Friday issued notice to the State Government on the bail plea of Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel in connection with the sedition case filed against him in Surat.
Hardik has challenged an order of the Surat sessions court refusing him bail two weeks back. Surat police’s crime branch had opposed the bail claiming that Hardik may tamper with evidence and influence the witnesses if released.
Admitting the petition Friday, Justice A J Desai issued notice to Gujarat Government, posting the matter to April 7.
Hardik has been lodged at lajpore jail in Surat since September last. He is facing another sedition case in Ahmedabad. Chargesheets have been filed in both the cases.
The 22-year-old Patel leader, on October 3 last, allegedly advised a Surat-based activist from his community to kill the policemen rather than ending his life.
“If you have so much courage...Then go and kill a couple of policemen. Patels never commit suicide,” Hardik allegedly told Vipul Desai, who had announced he would commit suicide in support of the quota agitation.