Hardik Patel booked for sedition over remarks on 'killing cops'

Patel was earlier detained by the Gujarat police as he threatened to stage a protest at SCA stadium, venue of a match between India and SA

Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel was today booked by Gujarat Police under sedition charges for his alleged comments on October 3 instigating a community youth to kill policemen instead of committing suicide.

"We have filed a case of sedition against Hardik Patel for his October 3 comments here telling his friends to kill policemen," DCP Marland Chauhan, who has become a complainant in the case, said.

The sedition case has been filed under section 124(A) of IPC at Amroli police station in the city.

In a controversial remark in Surat, Hardik, the 22-year-old fiery leader, had allegedly advised a youth from the community to kill policemen rather than commit suicide.

"If you have so much courage...Then go and kill a couple of policemen. Patels never commit suicide," Hardik had allegedly told the youth Vipul Desai, who had announced that he would commit suicide in support of the agitation.

Hardik visited Desai's house accompanied by a team of a news channel which had aired the conversation later.

This complaint against Hardik comes after almost 15 days of his controversial remarks.

The quota spearhead has been hogging the limelight since the August 25 "mega-rally" of Patels in Ahmedabad and the subsequent violence across Gujarat.

Hardik was detained yesterday in Rajkot ahead of India- South Africa third ODI, as he had threatened to protest during the match for quota for his community. He is still under detention of Rajkot Police.