2,700-page chargesheet filed against Hardik

Ahmedabad crime branch police on Monday filed a 2700 page chargesheet against Patel quota stir spearhead Hardik Patel and his three associates in a sedition case.

They also declared two of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) convener’s associates Alpesh Kathiriya and Amrish Patel as absconders in the case.

Police charged Hardik, Chirag Patel, Dinesh Bhamaniya and Ketan Patel under sections 121 A and 124 A of IPC for sedition and waging war against duly elected government.

The chargesheet contains 42 call detail records of telephonic conversation between Hardik, his associates and his supporters, statements of 503 witnesses and the reports of the forensic science laboratory certifying the veracity of the calls made by the accused.

Hardik and 14 other PAAS leaders have been in custody since October 18 last year on various charges, even as the state government has spoken of its intent to withdraw cases against the agitators and ease their bail process. The chargesheet also comes at a time when it is widely rumoured that Hardik is finally ready for a dialogue with the state government on a host of issues including patel reservation.

A week ago, Hardik told outside Surat court that he would continue the stir once he was out of jail. Surat police filed a 370-page report charging Hardik under IPC sections 124(A) - sedition, 115 (abetment of offence) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence).