Hardik files bail plea in sessions court in sedition case

Ahmedabad: Patel quota stir leader Hardik Patel on Tuesday filed a bail application in the Ahmedabad sessions court in connection with a sedition case filed against him here last month.

In the plea, filed before Additional Sessions Judge N G Dave, his lawyer B M Mangukiya argued the FIR against Hardik is fabricated and the agitation led by him does not amount to sedition or waging war against government, as charged by Ahmedabad police.

In the plea, it is argued that Hardik never indulged in either inciting people against government or asked them to wage war against the government as he, along with other Patel community leaders, was just demanding reservation for the community under OBC quota.

The Ahmedabad crime branch on October 21 had charged Hardik and five of his key aides under IPC sections 121 (waging war against government), 124 (sedition), 153-A (promoting enmity between different communities) and 153-B (assertions prejudicial to national integrity).

The 22-year-old firebrand leader, who is lodged in Surat jail, claimed in the plea that he has been falsely implicated by the government "in order to suppress the voice of dissent of Patidar (Patel) community.

"The FIR is a false and fabricated story lodged at the behest of interested persons," the plea said.

It also pointed out that right of expression is a fundamental right of every citizen and it cannot be suppressed.

After admitting the plea, the court fixed further hearing on November 20.