BJP candidate Rathwa granted bail in arms case

Vadodara, Dec 17: BJP's Pavi-Jetpur candidate Jayanti Rathwa, who was arrested along with four of his supporters under Arms Act, was granted bail by a Chhotaudepur court today.

Apprehending breach of peace, the police which removed the accused from Pavi-Jetpur to an undisclosed place on Sunday, produced them before the Chhotaudepura judicial magistrate, who allowed them bail, according to Chhotaudepura circle inspector C D Parmar. Rathwa and nine of his supporters were arrested by the Vadodara rural police yesterday a few hours before the polling for the second phase of Gujarat Assembly elections.

After a search of their three vehicles they were travelling in yielded a country made revolver, nine cartridges, a sword and a couple of liquor bottles.

Acting on a tip-off, police intercepted the three vehicles at Bhindol village and recovered the illegal weapons. But, one of the accused identified as Raisinh Rathwa, managed to jump out of the BJP candidate's Mahindra Scorpio and escaped. He is still absconding.

Mr Parmar said while the BJP candidate Rathwa and five others were booked under the Arms Act for illegal possession of firearms and weapons, five others travelling in two separate vehicles, had been charged under the prohibition act.

UNI