Hardik Patel remanded to police custody till January 15

VISNAGAR: A local court in Visnagar town of Mehsana district today sent quota leader Hardik Patel in police custody till January 15 in a case of rioting and assault registered against him here six months back.

Hardik was produced before the judicial magistrate A N Patel at his residence in Visnagar midnight last night by Mehsana Police, which sought five-day remand of Hardik. After arguments, the magistrate sent Hardik into three-day police custody in an early morning order.

On January 11, Visnagar Police had taken custody of Hardik Patel from Lajpore jail of Surat after acquiring transfer warrant and took him to Mehsana in a case of rioting and assault, lodged against him on July 23 in Visnagar police station.

Hardik was lodged in Lajpore Jail since last three months, as he faces two sedition cases, one at Surat and another at Ahmedabad.

Hardik is one of the accused in an FIR filed at Visnagar on July 23, when a rally of Patel community seeking reservation turned violent, resulting in damage to property and assault on some media persons.

Later, a complaint of rioting, damaging property and assault was filed against Hardik and seven other Patel leaders, who were present during the rally.