Bharuch: Three sons of Janata Dal (United) MLA Chhotu Vasava were among eight persons sentenced by a court to three years in jail for attacking a local Congress leader.

Additional sessions judge M H Patel at Ankleshwar suspended the ruling to enable the accused to file appeal in the Gujarat High Court, and granted bail to all of them, except Kishor Vasava, one of the sons of the MLA from Jhagadia in Bharuch district.

The other two sons of the MLA sentenced are Mahesh and Dileep. Mahesh Vasava is a former JD(U) MLA from Dediapada.

All eight accused were found guilty under section 325 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt) of the IPC, but the charge of attempt to murder was quashed.

According to the local Congress leader Balu Vasava, the accused assaulted him in January 2009 claiming that he was coming in the way of Chhotu Vasava’s work in the region.

Chhotu Vasava, a tribal bahubali leader enjoys support only in Jhagadia belt of Bharuch district. He is the lone MLA of his party in Gujarat. He continues to win in this area as MLA while his family and supporters enjoy power in Taluka/district panchayat level. There’s Congress-JDU alliance in Bharuch district panchayat at present.

More details from Ankleshwar:

Attack on Congress leader Balu Vasava took place in year 2009 in Talodara village in which Vasava was seriously injured. Sessions Court in Ankleshwar has given its verdict after 8-year long legal process. Chhotu Vasava’s son Mahesh Vasava is ex-MLA of Dediapada. He he head of Bharatiya Tribal Party. Dilip Vasava’s wife is Jhagadia Taluka Panchayat president. Paresh Balu Vasava is former MLA Mahesh Vasava’s brother in law. Soon after the verdict by Judge MH Patel, all accused barring Kishor Vasava son of MLA Chhotu Vasava got bail. Defence lawyer Dhiraj Parmar said the verdict will be challenged in higher court. He claimed that witnesses had not identified accused but still court gave this verdict. He said accused are not sentenced under attempt of murder and arms act related charges. They have been convicted only for charge pertaining to causing serious injury to other. Government lawyer Paresh Pandya said that verdict has been given considering police investigation. He said the accused should get more than five-year term, for which higher court will be approached. The names of accused convicted are Mahesh Chhotubhai Vasava, Kishor Chhotubhai Vasava, Dilip Chhotubhai Vasava, Fatesingh Chiman Vasava. Ramesn Bhana Vasava, Sana Jetha Vasava, paresh Balu Vasava and Keyur Rupji Vasava.

With inputs from agency