Charge sheet against Hardik Patel in Visnagar rioting case

Ahmedabad, Mar 9: Police today filed a charge sheet against Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel and 16 others in a case of rioting and assault registered at Visnagar town of Gujarat last July.

The charge sheet was submitted in the court of Judicial Magistrate J A Rana in the presence of Hardik who was taken there from Lajpore jail in Surat.

Police have pressed the charges under sections 337 (causing hurt by endangering life or personal safety), 394 (causing hurt while committing robbery), 427 (causing damage to property) and 435 (using fire or explosives to cause damage) of Indian Penal Code and also under Gujarat Police Act against him and others.

They are accused of being part of a group of around 500 youths from the Patel community which vandalised the office of the BJP MLA Rushikesh Patel in the town, attacked journalists, and rioted on July 23 when the agitation was at its peak.

"The group attacked a journalist who was recording the incident, broke video camera and injured him. They also looted a mobile phone worth Rs 10,000 and set a car on fire," the charge sheet says.

Hardik's lawyers said they will file a bail application in the court in a few days. He is also facing sedition cases in Surat and Ahmedabad.

PTI