Bail plea of two Hardik aides rejected

A Surat court on Thursday rejected the bail pleas of two close associates of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) spearhead Hardik Patel in a sedition case. Hearing of Patel's bail plea in the case will come up on Saturday.

The Surat Police crime branch had slapped sedition charges against Chirag Desai and Vipul Desai along with Hardik Patel in October 2015. Hardik was allegedly captured on tape advising Vipul to kill policemen instead of committing suicide.

The PAAS convener had gone to Vipul Desai's house after he threatened to kill himself in support of the ongoing quota stir of the Patidars. Patel told Desai to be brave and not think of committing suicide, but instead kill a policeman or two. Patels never commit suicide, Hardik told Desai.

Hearing on the bail applications of Chirag and Vipul had concluded on Monday but that of Hardik was deferred to Saturday since the investigation officer in his case was absent. With the rejection of the bail plea of his close aides, chances that his application would be accepted seemed bleak.

The Surat crime branch had on January 8 filed a 370-page charge sheet in the case. All the three accused are lodged in the Lajpore central jail in Surat.

Meanwhile, an Ahmedabad court will also hear on Saturday Hardik's bail plea in yet another sedition case filed against him and five supporters. The crime branch of Ahmedabad police had on January 18 filed a 2,700-page charge sheet in the case for their alleged role in the violence related to the pro-quota agitation.