AHMEDABAD: A sessions court in Surat today adjourned till Monday the hearing of a bail petition filed by quota agitation leader Hardik Patel as the investigating officer in the case could not file a reply opposing the plea.
Hardik, lodged in Surat jail on charges of sedition (section 124 A), abetment of offence (section 115), and causing disappearance of evidence (section 201) of IPC , had moved the plea on January 22.
The matter came up for hearing on January 27 but was adjourned after police sought more time to submit their reply.
Principal district judge Geeta Gopi adjourned the hearing today as the investigating officer remained absent as he is currently visiting Delhi in connection with the case.
Police had filed a chargesheet against Hardik in Surat on January 8 on the charge of sedition.
The 22-year-old Patel leader had on October 3 last year allegedly advised a Surat-based activist from his community to kill cops rather than end his life.
"If you have so much courage...Then go and kill a couple of policemen. Patels never commit suicide," Hardik had allegedly told one Vipul Desai, who had vowed to commit suicide in support of the quota agitation.
Meanwhile, Hardik's bail plea in a second sedition case filed against him in Ahmedabad is scheduled to be heard by the city sessions court tomorrow.