Arrest me: Hardik Patel turned away from surrender mission

Hardik Patel had yesterday announced that he and his 12 Sidekicks, all named in an FIR relating to an arson and rioting case, would surrender before the City Crime Branch on Monday.
Hardik Patel (File|AFP)
Hardik Patel (File|AFP)

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat quota-for-Patels leader Hardik Patel and 12 of his supporters went to a police station here to surrender in a rioting case but were asked to go home as the investigating officer was not in town.

Hardik Patel had announced on Sunday that he and his 12 Sidekicks, all named in a first information report relating to an arson and rioting case, would surrender before the City Crime Branch on Monday.

He was also supposed to appear before the Crime Branch as part of his bail condition in a sedition case.

"Patel was required to present himself before us every Monday. So, Hardik asked us to arrest him and others but as the IO (investigating officer) is out of station, we told him we will do it later," assistant commissioner of police(ACP) B C Solanki said.

On March 20, the Ramol precinct police lodged a rioting and arson case against Hardik and 59 other Patel quota agitators for creating a ruckus outside the house of BJP corporator.

The Ramol police have arrested 13 persons so far in that case. Later, the probe was transferred to the Crime Branch.

While coming out of Crime Branch office after his arrest-me visist, Hardik Patel told mediapersons he would not be  intimidated by such "new cases" filed against him.

"The government cannot stop me from raising my voice by filing such new cases or putting me behind bars again. Even if the BJP wins the upcoming Assembly polls, our fight for reservation will continue," said Hardik who is also facing sedition cases in Ahmedabad and Surat.

As per the conditions set by the Gujarat High Court while granting him bail in July last year, he needs to appear before the Crime Branch in Ahmedabad and every week.

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