3 min readAhmedabadSep 23, 2015 12:19 PM IST
First published on: Sep 23, 2015 at 05:31 AM IST
Hardik Patel (Source: Express Photo by Javed Raja)
The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday midnight issued notice to the state government and orally directed the police to trace Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel as soon as possible. The order came on a habeas corpus petition filed by two members of PAAS alleging that Hardik has allegedly been detained by the police illegally.
Read: Hardik Patel missing, Gujarat High Court hears plea past midnight at judge’s home
The division led by Justice M R Shah after hearing the matter for nearly an hour issued notice to the state government and sought reply by September 24 when the matter will heard again. According to petitioners Ketan Patel and Dinesh Patel, members of PAAS, Hardik was allegedly detained by police illegally and his life is under threat. The petitioners lawyer B M Mangukia said that the court has orally directed the police to trace Hardik as life of every citizen is paramount.
Read: Crackdown on Hardik Patel supporters, 17 nabbed in Gujarat
While briefing media at around 3 AM after the hearing was over Mangukia said, “Hardik Patel and his driver are not traceable. We are afraid of their lives. And therefore we have moved the petition,” Mangukia said alleging that Hardik has been kept in illegal police confinement.
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Appearing for the state public prosecutor Mitesh Amin said that Hardik was neither detained or arrested by the police, instead he is in the run. Amin said that Hardik was part of the mob which had gathered at Tenpur village, Bayad taluka in Aravalli district without any permission. He said that following an FIR many members of the gathering were arrested by the police, however, Hardik escaped.
The petitioners have made DGP PC Thakur, Range IGP Hasmukh Patel, and Aravalli District Superintendent of Police Mayur Chavda as respondent parties. The petitioners have alleged that after 5 PM the police picked up 13 PAAS leaders from Tenpur village including Hardik.
In the meanwhile, J J Patel, lawyer and convener of BJP legal cell, arrived outside the justice Shah’s residence and told media persons that Mangukia’s involvement in the case “proves that the whole agitation is being supported by the Congress. I must say that Mangukia, convener of Congress legal cell, engagement in the case proves that Congress in behind the movement which has tarnished the image of Gujarat.”
Refuting all the charges Mangukia said that he is only helping the petitioners as a lawyer.
Hardik Patel (Source: Express Photo by Javed Raja)
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