The 22-year-old Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti convener (PAAS) Hardik Patel got some reprieve from the Gujarat High Court on Tuesday as the court quashed the charges against him framed under Section 121 of Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Coincidentally, the relief came a day before the results of a two-tier polls to local self-Government bodies. Under Section 121 of IPC the PAAS convener was facing charges pertaining to waging or attempting to wage war or abetting waging of war against the Government.
He is also facing charges under Sections 153 A and B relating to promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religious, race etc and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony and imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration.
The High Court, however, retained the charges framed under Section 121 A of IPC related to conspiracy to overawe by means of criminal force or the show of criminal force. The court also retained the sedition charge against Hardik framed under IPC 124A.
Already pleas for Hardik’s bail has been filed in the lower courts, said the PAAS convener’s lawyer BM Mangukia who claimed that the road to obtain bail for him has now become easier and hope to see Hardik out soon.
It is worth mentioning that Patel has been behind the bars since October 18, when he was detained by Rajkot Police after he had threatened to disrupt India South Africa Match in Rajkot.
The next day he was handed over to Surat Police, who booked him under sedition charges.