Hardik Patel moves Supreme Court over sedition case

Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) convener Hardik Patel has asked the Supreme Court to quash a sedition case lodged against him by Surat police for his purported suggestion to kill policemen. The 22-year-old had suffered a setback after the Gujarat high court on October 27 turned down his plea to stop police investigation against him in the case.

Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) convener Hardik Patel has asked the Supreme Court to quash a sedition case lodged against him by Surat police for his purported suggestion to kill policemen. The 22-year-old had suffered a setback after the Gujarat high court on October 27 turned down his plea to stop police investigation against him in the case.

Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti Conveyor Hardik Patel being produced in Fast Track Court in Surat. Patel faces charges of sedition, over his alleged remarks encouraging his supporters to kill policemen. (PTI Photo)

Surat police had registered a case of sedition, promoting enmity between different groups, criminal intimidation and inciting one community against another, 15 days after the Patel leader allegedly advised a youth from his community not to commit suicide but kill the policemen. Surat-based PAAS member Vipul Desai had announced to end his life in support of the quota agitation.

Patel’s father had challenged registration of the case, which was dismissed with the HC holding a prima facie case of sedition was made out against Hardik. It, however, quashed the other sections.

Hardik denied having made the statement before the Supreme Court. He referred to Desai’s statement before the police, in which Desai apparently said that the 22-yeard-old leader had never asked him to kill policemen.

In his alternative plea, Hardik said even if it’s assumed that he made the statement, he never intended the consequences of his remarks and there was no commission of the offence.