2017 case in Navsari: Congress MLA convicted of criminal tresspass, told to pay Rs 99 fine

Delivering the verdict, the court noted that although the crime entailed an imprisonment of three months and Rs 500 penalty, “the accused had gone (to the university) with a good motive, taking the side of the students”. “But their method was not proper so there is no need to punish them. If they are released by taking a penalty amount, justice will be done and in future people will not follow mob mentality,” the magistrate observed.

The incident took place on May 12, 2017, where students were protesting over considering nonforestry department students for recruitment to the post of forester and beat guard.
Then president of Vansda Nagar Palika and leader of Youth Congress Anant Patel and state president of Congress youth wing, Gulabsingh Rajput, along with others forcefully entered vice-chancellor CJ Dogariya’s office and threatened the official.

Dogariya lodged a complaint against seven accused Piyush Dhimmer (33), resident of Bhestkhada Machhiwad in Navsari district, Mehul Tailor (36), from Karwad Colony of Navsari, Rajeet Panwala (26) and Anant Patel (35) from Vansda, Nehal Patel (36) of Jalalpore, Yash Desai (23) of Gandevi taluka and Parthiv Kathvadiya (35) of Ahmedabad, with Jalalpore police station. The name of Gulabsinh Rajput of Tharad was added in the supplementary chargesheet.

Police registered an offence against all accused under IPC sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 353 (assault), 427 (mischief causing loss of Rs 50 upwards), 447 (criminal trespass) and 504 (intentional insult) and 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions).

Mehul Tailor who was Congress councillor of Navsari Nagar Palika died of heart attack in 2019.
The chargesheet was filed on January 29, 2018 and charges were framed on August 31, 2019. After hearing the arguments from assistant public prosecutor JU Yadav and advocate AC Christian from the defense side, March 27 was fixed as date of judgement.

On Monday, the additional CJM convicted Piyush Dhimmer, Anant Patel, Parthiv Kathvadiya and Gulabsinh Rajput under IPC sections 447 and acquitted Rajeet Panwala, Nehal Patel and Yash Desai on a bail of Rs 15,000.

The order stated, “The accused had been convicted under IPC sections 447… As per the statement of vice-chancellor, if 4 to 5 people had entered his office for representations, they would be welcomed with tea and water… but they adopted mob mentality… not applicable in a state ruled by law. The accused are political leaders. It comes in their purview of them (political leaders) to follow rule of law and through them their supporters will follow. They have choses wrong way to make representation…”

Congress MLA from Vansda Anant Patel could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts.