AMN /
Gujarat high court today directed the state government to find Hardik Patel after one of his aide moved a habeas corpus petition alleging that Hardik had been illegally detained by police. Police had earlier claimed that Hardik Patel had given them a slip when they went to detain him after he organized a public meeting allegedly without prior permission at Bayad in Aravali district.
In a dramatic development, a division bench comprising justices M.R. Shah and K.J. Thaker heard the petition after late midnight with Hardik Patel’s aide Dinesh Patel seeking court’s intervention to direct authorities to produce him before the court.
The court issued notice to the Gujarat government, Director General of Police, Range Inspector General of Aravali Range and Superintendent of Police of Aravali district directing them to file reply tomorrow. Public prosecutor Mr. Mitesh Amin told the court that Hardik is not in police custody.
However, the high court asked the state government to find Hardik Patel saying “he is a citizen of the country”.
Hardik Patel is the convener of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti- who has spearheaded the widespread agitation in the state demanding reservation to Patidar community under the OBC quota.
Inspector General of Gandhinagar Range Hasmukh Patel has said that Hardik Patel is not in police custody. However, a case has been registered against him for organizing public meeting at Bayad in Aravali district last evening.
About 12 Patidar activists had been detained from the spot, however Hardik Patel had given slip to the police to avoid the arrest. Police are interrogating arrested and other Patidar activists to trace out Hardik Patel. Meanwhile, the issue of Patidar agitation is likely to be discussed in state cabinet meeting being held at Gandhinagar today. Government is likely to finalize the package for Patidar community as well as the weaker sections of other community.