Patel agitation leader Hardik Patel today surfaced near Halvad in Surendranagar district soon after Gujarat high court 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.

Hardik reportedly claimed that the police had “abducted” him on Tuesday and left him on a highway today.

However, the Gujarat government has dismissed the allegation he was “abducted or detained” by the cops. The Gandhinagar range IG Hasmukh Patel, who called Hardik a “criminal” said he faces arrest by the cops in connection with holding a public meeting without the police permission on Tuesday in a village in North Gujarat.

Hardik’s lawyer BM Mamgukia left for Halvad to meet him while the police sources said he could be arrested anytime. He is likely to be produced before the court on Thursday in the habeas curpus writ filed by his lawyer Mangukia.

The Gujarat High Court had asked the State government to find Hardik Patel and produce him in the court by Thursday. The court passed order on a habeas corpus writ filed at 1:30 am and heard by Justice MR Shah at his residence at 2:30 am.