Hours after arrest for ‘slapping hospital staff’, AAP corporator released on bail

Party leaders, including AAP corporators, gathered outside the police station and chanted slogans, officials said, adding that all those who were detained were released at around 2.30 am on Friday.

Suhagiya, who is the councillor from Ward no 17 (Puna), was accused of slapping an on-duty contractual employee at the Surat Municipal Corporation-run SMIMER Hospital.

Rahul Patel, the hospital staff member, was tasked with providing information about the government’s Ayushman Bharat scheme.

As per details in the FIR, on Wednesday, Suhagiya barged into the cabin of Patel and had an argument with him over a patient waiting for long in the queue. The patient had allegedly given the reference of Suhagiya.

Suhagiya lost his temper, slapped the contractual employee, and threatened him before leaving the spot amid the argument, as per the complaint filed at the Varachha police station on Wednesday night.

While speaking with The Indian Express Vipul Suhagiya on Friday slammed the BJP. “Without giving notice or intimation, police personnel came to the SMC Zone office and arrested me on Thursday. The IPC sections leveled at me were bailable, even then police had kept me in police custody and had tried to harm my image. They treated me like a criminal. Police were working under the direction of the BJP. Today, I got bail from the court, even the judge had pointed out that in such an offence if bail is given from the police station so why was he brought in the court,” he said

Suhagiya was arrested by Varachha police under IPC sections, 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (2) (criminal intimidation), 332 (causing hurt to deter public servant from doing his duty), on the basis of a complaint filed by one Rahul Patel, who was working under contract at SMIMER hospital.

“We took action and arrested Vipul Suhagiya on the basis of the complaint filed by Rahul Patel. We also detained 23 AAP corporators and their supporters who were protesting outside the police station and then released them,” police inspector A N Gabani said.