Hardik Patel arrested, gets bail, re-arrested

Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti leader Hardik Patel was arrested on Monday on sedition charges for allegedly insulting the national tricolour, officials said here. He got bail but was arrested again in another case.

Police lodged a complaint against him at Paddhari police station in Rajkot, Superintendent of Police (Rural) Gagandeep Gambhir told the media.

The 22-year-old leader was produced before the city civil court and enlarged on bail of Rs.10,000 in the evening.

Immediately thereafter, Patel was arrested by the Surat Police which had sent a team to Rajkot in the afternoon in another case.

Gambhir said Patel's feet allegedly touched the national flag when he jumped on a car while trying to speak to the media on Sunday when he was detained by police at Madhapur junction.

Disguised as a farmer, he was leading protestors to the one-day international cricket match between India and South Africa at Khanderi Stadium but they were detained and kept in custody till morning.

"When the police stopped him, Patel suddenly jumped on the roof of his vehicle with the tricolor when it touched his feet. This is an insult to the dignity of the tricolor and not permitted under the law," Gambhir explained the charges against Patel.

The Surat Police is expected to produce him in a court on Monday night.