Mevani sent to 5 days’ police custody, for second time in a week, in Assam

Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani was sent to 5 days' police custody, for the second time in a week in Assam, this time by Barpeta's chief judicial magistrate. Mevani's counsel Angshuman Bora said that the police produced the MLA in court before the defence counsel arrived, in violation of rules. He said he may appeal to the Gauhati high court for bail.

"They produced him before our arrival so that they could take his custody. There was absolute violation of fundamental rights. While in custody, he was not informed about the other cases. In two forwarding reports they did not mention the second case to prevent us from applying for anticipatory bail. My client was deprived of access to a lawyer last night. He was not allowed to sign legal documents. The second FIR is a concocted case. If any new case is slapped, we will have to petition the high court," Bora said.

Charges against Mevani this time include 'voluntarily causing hurt', 'criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty' and 'force on a woman cop intending to outrage her modesty'.


He was initially arrested from Guajrat's Banaskantha after a complaint in Assam by an Arup Kumar Dey for two tweets 'against' Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mevani was in police custody and jail for 5 days following the first arrest. When he finally obtained bail on Monday, he was rearrested with the new charges, which allegedly happened after his first arrest.

In the second FIR lodged at Barpeta Road Police Station, police personnel Delika Brahma alleged Mevani, "uttered slang words at me. When I asked him to behave, he used more slang words. He pointed his finger at me and tried to frighten me and pushed me from my seat with force. He assaulted me during execution of my legal duty as a public servant and outraged my modesty by touching me inappropriately while pushing. After reaching Kokrajhar, I immediately informed the matter to my senior officers. I, therefore, request you to register a case against the accused person."

In a related incident, the Assam Police detained Youth Congress President BV Srinivas, Barpeta Congress MP Abdul Khalaque and Assam Congress working president Jakir Hussian Sikdar during a Youth Congress protest demanding Mevani's release.