Hardik to walk out of prison soon

The Gujarat High Court on Monday paved the way for the release of incarcerated Hardik Patel, the face of the Patel quota stir, by granting him conditional bail in a rioting case in Visnagar town in northern Gujarat.

The court had last week granted bail to Patel in two cases of sedition on the condition that he stay away from Gujarat for six months.

“Hardik has been granted bail in the Visnagar case on the condition that he would not enter Mehsana district for nine months. Once he returns to Gujarat after six months, he won’t be able to visit Visnagar for another three months,” Patel’s lawyer Zubin Bharda told mediapersons.

“He will have to stay away from his hometown till the trial in the Visnagar case is over and if he wishes to visit Mehsana after nine months, he can do so only with the permission of the court.”

The police had filed a charge sheet against Patel and 16 others in a case of rioting and assault registered at Visnagar town last July. The first rally by the Patels, seeking reservation in government jobs and educational institutions, was held at Visnagar on July 6 last year.

The Gujarat High Court has allowed Patel to stay in the state for two days and visit his house after his release to collect his belongings. However, it refused to accede to his request to visit the temple of his family deity in Unjha town in Mehsana.

“It may take a few days for Hardik to walk out of the prison as we need to complete some formalities,” his lawyer said.

The order on Patel’s bail brought cheer to his family members, who, along with well-wishers, burst crackers in celebration.