Gujarat govt withdraws case against Hardik Patel for 'insulting' tri-colour

Rajkot, Oct 12: The Gujarat government has withdrawn a case against Patel quota stir leader Hardik Patel for allegedly insulting the tri-colour nearly two years ago.

Rajkot Collector Vikrant Pandey passed the order to withdraw the case against Hardik following instructions from the state government.

"As per the instruction received from the state government (home ministry), we have withdrawn case against Hardik and activists of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) which were registered in Rajkot district," Pandey said yesterday. Only one FIR was registered against Hardik in the district, he said, adding further formalities will be completed in court.

Five other cases against PAAS agitators were also withdrawn, the collector added. On October 19, 2015, Hardik, the convener of the PAAS, was booked for allegedly insulting the tri-colour.

Police had said Hardik jumped over the tri-colour when he was on the way to the Khandheri cricket stadium here to disrupt the India-South Africa ODI match scheduled that day. According to police, Hardik's feet had touched the national flag which he was carrying as he jumped on a car in an attempt to speak to the media when he was stopped by the police on way to the stadium.

PTI