Complainant in a loot case against Hardik does a U-turn

The case of loot against Hardik Patel registered at Patan last week, for which he was arrested along with his close aide Dinesh Bhambaniya, took an unexpected turn as the complainant claimed that he had not named Hardik at all.

“I had given exact names of people who attacked us. We had said that they belonged to a section of Hardik’s supporters. We have not filed any complaint against Hardik and neither can we. He is like my younger brother and I shall stand by him whenever he wants,” Narendra Patel, the key complainant said in a video message on social media. He is also reported to have filed an application with Gujarat High Court stating that Hardik was not involved in the incident.

According to the details of the case as shown on Patan police website, Narendra Patel, who is PAAS convenor for Mehsana district, had stated that he and his associate Dilip Savaliya were seated near Navjivan Hotel for snacks when Hardik arrived at the scene with his supporters. He said that Hardik and his men got in altercation with Dilip and him (Narendra).

Later, Hardik’s supporters abused and attacked them, snatching a gold chain worth Rs 30,000 and broke their mobile phone worth Rs 10,000 by throwing it, before leaving the venue. Later, when they (Dilip and Narendra) reached Pragati Maidan, Dinesh Bhamaniya threatened them with dire consequences.

The state police on August 28 swooped down on Hardik and arrested him from Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway in a dramatic fashion near Anand and handed him over to Patan police. He, along with Dinesh, was sent to three-day police remand and later under judicial custody.

The stance by Narendra Patel comes a day after another close associate of Hardik and co-accused in a sedition case - Ketan Patel - received pardon from the City Sessions Court of Ahmedabad as he turned approver.

Ketan, who is out on bail, was granted pardon on the condition that he would fully cooperate with the investigation by turning an approver in the case for the successful prosecution of other offenders. Hardik and his three aides Ketan, Dinesh and Chirag Patel were charged with sedition and criminal conspiracy by Ahmedabad Police after large-scale violence post-Patel Mega Rally held in the city on August 25, 2015.

The state government did not oppose Ketan’s request in the court as Ketan was willing to reveal details of the “conspiracy” related to the case and turn approver.