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Journalism of Courage
Congress MP from Porbandar caught on camera waving a gun at a toll booth strikes a deal with the complainant,but cuts no ice with court.
In the dock for threatening the staff of a toll plaza with a gun on October 12,Congress MP from Porbandar Vithal Radadiya on Tuesday got a rap from the High Court,which took up his petition seeking to quash the FIR filed in the case by the toll plaza manager who did not want to press with it.
The state government,however,opposed Radadiyas plea arguing that the complainant had been won over by the accused and urged the court to dismiss the MPs petition filed on Monday.
The HC,while posting further hearing on the matter for November 5,rapped the MP for his behaviour.
In his petition that came up for hearing today,Radadiya had sought to quash the FIR lodged with Karjan police in Vadodara by Ajaysinh Thakor,an employee present at the toll plaza on the national highway connecting Vadodara and Bharuch.
Thakor had alleged that Radadiya and six others travelling with him in an SUV that night had threatened them and the MP had hit another employee with the butt of his gun after he was asked to show his identity card to claim the toll waiver.
Immediately after the petition was taken up for hearing,Thakors lawyer Hardik Modh stood up and told the court he was not pressing with the complaint.
Radadiyas lawyer Prakash Thakkar told the court that the offence under the Arms Act could not be made out since the MP was carrying a licensed gun.
He further argued the only offence that remained was that of criminal intimidation and so complaint could be quashed since they had amicably settled the dispute with the complainant.
The court,however,was not convinced. Is this the manner in which an MP behaves in public? Is this the kind of language that one uses in a civilised society? He has got a licensed gun,but is it for show-off? Justice R H Shukla,who heard the matter,said.
On Radadiyas plea to quash the FIR,the court said,It is good if he undergoes the trial. At least he would realise.
Public prosecutor Prakash Jani strongly opposed Radadiyas petition. They (accused and complainant) are hand-in-golve. The complainant has been won over.
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