HC stays BJP MP Nalin Kotadia's arrest in extortion case

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat high court on Thursday granted interim protection against arrest to Nalin Kotadia, BJP MLA from Dhari, in connection with an FIR lodged by a builder with Vastrapur police station accusing him of threat and extortion.
Justice Paresh Upadhyay admitted Kotadia’s anticipatory bail application and issued notice to the state government asking it to reply to the bail plea by August 10.The court ordered that Kotadia should not be arrested till then.
Kotadia moved the HC after a trial court denied anticipatory bail to him on the ground that the charges leveled against Kotadia were of very serious nature and that he was prima facie involved in the alleged offence. The trial court also noticed that the probe is underway and at a very crucial stage.
Claiming innocence, Kotadia argued in his application that he was being framed in the case as he was about to make a major land scam exposed involving chief minister Anandiben Patel and other BJP leaders. He termed it a political conspiracy against him.
Builder Madhubhai Vasani on Wednesday lodged a police complaint against Kotadia that he barged into his office around 8pm on Tuesday with his men, demanded Rs 2 crore, and threatened him.
Kotadia was earlier with the BJP when he and some rebels had formed the Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP) under former chief minister Keshubhai Patel to take on then CM Narendra Modi. Later, the GPP merged with BJP.
Kotadia has been a loud supporter of Patidar quota stir leader Hardik Patel and joined their protest demonstrations against the state government.