Gondal BJP MLA’s son among eight arrested for assaulting Dalit NSUI leader

The arrest of the BJP MLA’s son, 25, came a week after he was booked following the complaint of Sanjay alias Chandu Solanki (25), an NSUI leader in Junagadh, on May 31. Solanki’s complaint alleged that while he was on his way back home from Kalva Chowk around 11:30 pm on May 30 when he had a verbal exchange with a car driver over his driving.

Solanki alleged that the passengers of the car as well as those in a second car, including Ganesh, tailed him to his residence on Datar Road. Solanki alleged that the accused roughed him up before his father Raju Solanki, who knew Ganesh, intervened and sorted out the issue.

However, around 3 am on May 31, the accused rammed their car into the victim’s bike on Datar Road while he was returning home, Solanki’s complaint states. The accused allegedly kidnapped Solanki in their car after beating him with sticks, took him to a deserted farm near Gondal where Ganesh and others were present.

According to the FIR lodged at “A” Division police station in Gondal, the accused threatened Solanki with firearms, removed his clothes and forced him to apologise while shooting videos of their act.

Solanki, a choreographer by profession, also told police that later on, the accused took him to Ganesh’s residence before taking him back to Junagadh and dumping him near Bhesan Chowkadi.

A team led by “A” Division police inspector VJ Savaj and Junagadh Crime Branch sub-inspector DK Zala nabbed Ganesh and seven others from Ardoi village of Kotda Sangani taluka in Rajkot. They were later formally arrested by Hitesh Dhandhlya, in charge deputy superintendent of SC/ST cell of Junagadh district police.

“We produced them in a local court, with an application seeking their remand for seven days. However, the court didn’t grant our application and instead sent the accused to judicial custody,” Dhandhalya said.

“During interrogation, Ganesh denied the charge that they had kidnapped Solanki and had taken him to his residence. Ganesh stated that there are CCTV cameras installed at his residence and is suggesting that police should check footage recorded by them,” he added.

The DySP said that Ganesh and others were on their way back to Gondal after a trip to Sasan Gir in Junagadh when they had a tussle with Solanki in Junagadh city.

“It was Pruthvisinh’s car that Solanki complained about. After verbal exchange with Solanki, Pruthvisinh dialled  Digpalsinh, whose car had already crossed Kalva Chowk. Ganesh, who was driving in another car was also informed about this incident. However, Ganesh denies the rest of the allegations.”  Ganesh and others have been booked under IPC Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 365 (kidnapping) 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) as well as those related to rioting and criminal intimidation. They have also been booked for atrocities.