The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday granted bail to Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Alpesh Kathiriya in connection with a sedition case filed by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch in 2015 after widespread violence erupted in the state during Hardik Patel's quota stir. The bail was granted by the single-judge bench of Justice AY Kogje on the ground of parity with other accused in the case who are already out on bail.
Notably, the counsel for Kathiriya had argued before the court that there was no point in keeping him behind bars when the other accused have been already enlarged on bail. It was also contended that Kathiriya was a practicing lawyer and his practice was getting affected. However, the state government had contended that Kathiriya was absconding for three years and considering the gravity of offences alleged against him, he should not be granted bail.
However, despite the bail, Kathiriya is going to still remain in jail as he was arrested by the Surat Crime Branch on Monday in connection with two cases lodged against him in the diamond city—one of them being a sedition case for inciting a youth to kill policemen and another for attempted murder. Notably, there are seven FIRs filed against Kathiriya in Surat and it appears that that the state government is hell-bent to ensure that he remains behind bars.
Meanwhile, Kathiriya was produced before a Surat court on Tuesday which sent him to Lajpore Jail. Interestingly, the Surat Crime Branch did not seek his remand before the court.
NOT YET FREE
- Notably, the counsel for Kathiriya had argued before the court that there was no point in keeping him behind bars when the other accused have been already enlarged on bail
- However, despite the bail, Kathiriya is going to still remain in jail as he was arrested by the Surat Crime Branch on Monday in connection with two cases filed against him
