Hardik Patel sedition charges to stay

In a setback to Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) convenor Hardik Patel, the Supreme Court on Friday refused to quash the sedition charges filed by the Surat police against him for exhorting his followers to attack the police.

A bench of Justices J.S. Khehar and Ms R. Banumathi, after hearing attorney general Mukul Rohatgi for Gujarat and senior counsel Kapil Sibal for Hardik Patel, restrained the state from filing a chargesheet in the case till January 5, 2016, the next date of hearing.

The bench rejected Mr Patel’s demand that the sedition charges be quashed, saying his plea would be considered only after the Surat police had completed his probe. The bench, while refusing Mr Patel’s plea seeking transfer of the case pending in the high court to the apex court, allowed the Surat police to continue the investigation and directed it to complete the probe within 45 days.

When it was submitted that a habeas corpus petition seeking his release is pending in the Gujarat high court, the bench allowed the high court to continue its inquiry into an alleged abduction stage-managed by Mr Patel.

Patel, arrested on October 19, was remanded in judicial custody on November 4 after nine days of police remand. Mr Patel has alleged that his comments at a meeting with a supporter who had threatened to kill himself in Surat were “misinterpreted”. He also questioned the authenticity of the video tape.