×
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Jignesh Mevani, nine others jailed for three months in unlawful assembly case

Former student union leader of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Kanhaiya Kumar, now with Congress, is also one of the accused in the case
Last Updated 05 May 2022, 17:19 IST

A magisterial court in Mehsana on Thursday sentenced independent MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani and nine others to three months in jail and imposed a fine of Rs1,000 each in the case registered in 2017 for taking out a rally without permission. While pronouncing the judgement, the court remarked, "it can be said that this is a strong case for disobedience to the law, which can never be justified, in the name of principles."

Later in the evening, they were granted bail for a period of one month to appeal against the judgement in a sessions court.

The additional chief judicial magistrate Jagruti Parmar passed the judgement holding Mevani and nine others guilty of the criminal offence registered in July 2017 for unlawful assembly under section 143 of the Indian Penal Code. The case was registered on July 12, 2017, with 'A' division police station in Mehsana town.

"...it can be said that this is a strong case for disobedience to the law, which can never be justified, in the name of principles. Observance of the law is always conducive to strengthening a democratic system while disobedience to the law can never have a salutary effect. Is it justified for the accused to act as his own legislator and to decide whether he will or will not obey the law? The answer is a big “no”," the court has remarked in the judgement.

Refusing the benefit of probation to the convicts, the court noted in its order, "No society can give its citizens the right to break its laws. But such types of offences disturb the peace of the society tumultuously and also waste of time of police officers for maintaining law and order which resultantly burdens our country economically. They have no repentance for the crime committed as they believe that they have not broken any law."

It further noted, "It appears that there caused no harm or damages occurred, but still this court thinks fit to impose the sentence as well as the fine both, to set an example to those who have no respect for law because the beacon of rule of law shines always and nobody is above law."

Kaushik Parmar, co-convener of Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch founded by Mevani, had applied for police permission for holding a rally "Azadi Kooch" from Mehsana town to Dhanera in Banaskantha district on 12 July 2017 to mark the first anniversary of flogging of Dalits youths in Una, Gir Somnath district by cow vigilantes. The rally also aimed to demand land rights for Dalits.

The local administration revoked the permission citing "law and order" issues. However, the organisers went ahead with the plan and were booked by the local police. Apart from Mevani, Nationalist Congress Party leader Reshma Patel has also been convicted.

In a statement issued by Mevani's team, the Vadgam MLA was quoted as saying, "We respect the judgement of the lower court but we will challenge this in the higher courts. For the record, I have no regrets whatsoever and I will readily do all this all over again if needed for the rights of my Dalit brothers and sisters." Mevani also told reporters after the pronouncement of the judgement, "The BJP government is not going after murderers, rapists and scammers but in a minor case of whether there was a permission for the rally or not, the government is determined to destroy Jignesh Mevani. The way the BJP government is after me shows how scared they are of an independent MLA who has newly joined a party. But, this government and their cases can't scare me ."

Earlier on April 19, Assam police arrested Mevani from Palanpur in Banaskantha district after an FIR was registered against him in Kokrajhar for his tweet targeting the prime minister Narendra Modi. He was rearrested after a court granted him bail on April 25 on charges of assaulting a woman police constable. On April 29, he was granted bail in the second case. In all, he spent ten days under police custody.

Apart from Mevani, Nationalist Congress Party leader Reshma Patel has also been convicted. The court also directed the investigating officer to file a separate charge sheet against accused Kanhaiya Kumar, former student union leader of Jawaharlal Nehru University Kanhaiya Kumar, now with the Congress. He is also one of the accused in the case. However, the trial against him is yet to begin as charges couldn't be framed due to his absence.

ADVERTISEMENT
(Published 05 May 2022, 09:49 IST)

Follow us on

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT