Probe Hardik's speech, file sedition case if necessary: HC

Ahmedabad, Oct 1: The Gujarat High Court has asked the city police to conduct probe into the allegedly provocative speech of Patel agitation leader Hardik Patel during the August 25 `mega-rally' of the community here and register a case of sedition if required.

Justice J B Pardiwala on Tuesday directed the Vastrapur police here to investigate the allegation that the 22-year-old leader made `seditious' speech on that day.

The order came on a petition filed by Narendra Gadhvi of Gandhidham in Kutch district seeking Hardik's prosecution for alleged sedition. Gadhvi, who filed the plea through advocate R K Rajput, claims that the Patel leader had on August 25 appealed to the community-members to reach the national capital and bring road and rail traffic to a halt.

He also provoked the Patels to take law in their hands, he alleges. Police refused to accept his complaint so he moved the court, said Gadhvi. The HC asked the police to conduct an inquiry and disposed of the petition. Hardik's lawyer, Babu Mangukia, today filed a plea seeking recall of the High Court's yesterday's order, saying his client wasn't heard on the issue and he hadn't committed sedition.

This petition is likely to be heard tomorrow. The agitation of Patel community for reservations had turned violent after the August 25 rally and claimed the life of 10 people including a police constable across Gujarat.

PTI