Gujarat HC quashes 2020 arrest warrant against BJP MLA Hardik Patel

The Gujarat High Court on October 16 quashed and set aside an arrest warrant order issued by an Ahmedabad court against BJP MLA Hardik Patel in relation to a 2015 FIR registered at the Ahmedabad city’s Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) police station against him following the Patidar agitation across the state.

The non-bailable arrest warrant was issued by an Ahmedabad city sessions court after he failed to remain present before the court during the trial in 2020. While Patel had tendered an application for exemption of appearance before the court on the day, the same was rejected and a non-bailable warrant was issued against him. He is facing charges of sedition and criminal conspiracy in the said case.

While quashing the arrest warrant, the court of Justice Sandeep Bhatt took into account that the prosecution agreed to the quashing of the arrest warrant and also the fact that the sedition law is under challenge and consideration of the Supreme Court.