Cops oppose Hardik’s bail plea

Surat, February 8

The Surat police today opposed the bail plea of quota agitation leader Hardik Patel, who is facing sedition charge, saying he might tamper with evidence and try to influence the witnesses, if released from prison.

In response to Hardik’s plea seeking bail in the first sedition case filed against him in the city, the Surat crime branch filed its affidavit in the court of Principal Sessions Judge Geeta Gopi, who listed the matter for further hearing on February 12.

Hardik, 22, the Patel quota agitation leader, had on October 3 last year allegedly advised a Surat-based activist from his community to kill policemen rather than ending his life.

On October 18, the crime branch lodged a case of sedition and arrested Hardik, who is now lodged in the Surat jail. “If you have so much courage...then go and kill a couple of policemen. Patels never commit suicide,” Hardik allegedly told Vipul Desai, who had announced that he would kill himself in support of the agitation.

In the affidavit, filed today by crime branch Inspector JH Dahiya, the police said a chargesheet was filed against Hardik on January 8 and further investigation was still on.

The crime branch told the court that Hardik was facing sedition charge and sufficient evidence had been gathered to implicate him. However, the statements of some key witnesses were yet to be recorded, it said.

It opposed the bail plea contending that considering Hardik’s past behaviour, there was a strong possibility that he might try to tamper with the evidence and influence the witnesses to weaken the case.

Besides the main chargesheet, the police attached 600 pages of call detail records and other documents with it. — PTI