Hardik to be present in Guj HC Thursday morning: Lawyer

Ahmedabad, Sep 24: Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel, who went missing last night and alleged he was abducted by some unknown persons, will go to Gujarat High Court on Thursday morning, his lawyer said.

After Hardik went missing from Aravali district on Tuesday, his aides moved a habeas corpus plea through his lawyer, BM Mangukiya, in Gujarat High Court in the wee hours today alleging that police had illegally detained him.

In a hearing at a judge's house that ended at 2.40 AM, high court directed the state government to find Hardik and file a reply by tomorrow, that is, September 24.

Even as police claimed that they could not locate him, Hardik himself called his aides in the morning and said he had been abducted by unknown persons last night and later released on the highway near Dhrangadhra town of Surendranagar district.

Advocate Mangukiya then went to the said town and returned here tonight with Hardik. Speaking to the media, Mangukiya, accompanied by Hardik, said, "Habeas corpus means someone is confined against his will and there is a threat to his life. Now, as Hardik is found, this is not a case of habeas corpus anymore.

"This is a clear-cut case of abduction. It is a matter of investigation whether it was done by the police or someone at their behest," Mangukia said.

"We will produce Hardik in high court tomorrow," he added.

Asked if he will seek an inquiry, Mangukia said a complaint of abduction would certainly be filed. The lawyer said that Hardik can recognise the faces of those who allegedly abducted and confined him.

Mangukiya added that, according to the 22-year-old Hardik, they looked like police officials. Asked if Hardik had noted the registration number of the car, Mangukia said he had failed to do so.

PTI