Gujarat: Second sedition case against Hardik Patel; two aides arrested

AHMEDABAD: A fresh case of sedition was today filed against Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel and five others by the city crime branch which also arrested two of his close aides.

Dinesh Patel and Chirag Patel of Patidar Anamant Andolan Samiti (PAAS) were arrested from outside the Gujarat High Court this evening when they stepped out of the court.

Surat police have already invoked the grave charge of sedition against Hardik, which he has challenged in the high court.

K N Patel, assistant commissioner of police, crime branch, is the complainant in the second case.

"We have been keeping a watch on them for the last three months. After the Patels' mega rally at GMDC ground here on August 25, we found that the accused had incited the people to resort to violence. They made phone calls and used other media to incite people against the government," the ACP said.

"Our surveillance suggested they had asked people in different parts of the state to set on fire police chowkies and public transport buses, hurl stones, attack houses of MLAs and even bomb the Assembly. They hatched a conspiracy to topple the government," the police officer said.

The FIR names six office-bearers of PAAS including Hardik Patel, Dinesh Patel, Chirag Patel and Alpesh Patel.

Hardik is currently in the custody of Surat police. The ACP said he may be arrested in the present case by seeking a transfer warrant.

In the case filed by Surat police, Hardik is accused of instigating a Patel youth to kill policemen instead of committing suicide.

In the FIR filed by the crime branch here today, the accused are charged with IPC sections 121 (waging war against the government), 124 (sedition -- bringing hatred, contempt or disaffection towards the Government), 153-A (promoting enmity between different communities) and 153-B (assertions prejudicial to national integrity).