Surat Police opposes bail plea of Hardik Patel in sedition case

Surat: Surat Police on Tuesday filed an affidavit before a sessions court opposing the bail application of Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel, who is facing a sedition case here. As Hardik's lawyers sought time to go through the police affidavit, Principal Sessions Judge Geeta Gopi scheduled the next hearing for December 4.

The grounds on which the police have opposed the bail petition were not immediately known as the affidavit was filed in a sealed cover. Hardik, lodged in Surat Jail at present, filed the bail plea on November 16, claiming that he is a victim of political vendetta.

His application alleged that the Gujarat government slapped false charges against him to keep him away from the local body polls in the state. Last month, Surat Police arrested Hardik on the charge of sedition for allegedly advising a fellow activist to kill policemen instead of committing suicide.

Later, Ahmedabad Crime Branch also invoked the sedition charge against him and five of his key aides. After the completion of his police custody in Ahmedabad on November 2, Hardik was sent back to jail in Surat by a court.