Gujarat govt rejects Hardik Patel''s undertaking for bail

Ahmedabad, May 4

The Gujarat government today refused to accept an undertaking given by jailed quota agitation leader Hardik Patel for obtaining bail.

Prosecutor Mitesh Amin told Justice AJ Desai of Gujarat High Court that the undertaking was not "agreeable to the government".

Hardik's signed undertaking, presented by his lawyer Zubin Bharda, assured that if set free, he would refrain from the activities that may affect law and order situation but will "continue to agitate for grievances of the Patidar community in a peaceful and democratic manner".

He would not indulge in any act disturbing the law and order and would abide by all the conditions that would be imposed by the court, it said.

Advocate Bharda argued that his client was "better suited" for bail than his three associates arrested in the same case (Chirag Patel, Ketan Patel and Dinesh Patel) who have got bail after giving undertakings.

The matter would be further heard tomorrow.

The lower courts in Surat and Ahmedabad — where there are separate sedition cases against Hardik — have refused him bail.

The young Patel leader and his three associates are facing charges under IPC’s Sections 124(A) (sedition), 121 (A) (conspiracy to wage war against government) and 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy) here. They are accused of inciting violence to put pressure on the government to accept the demand of OBC reservation for Patels.

Hardik is lodged at Lajpore jail in Surat. — PTI