The Supreme Court Friday granted bail to BJP leader
Hardik Patel in a case lodged against him in connection with the violence
during the Patidar stir in Gujarat in 2015 subject to his "diligent
participation" in the investigation.
A bench of Justice A S Bopanna and Justice Hima
Kohli made its earlier order granting protection to Patel absolute.
"This court had in February 2020 issued notice
and had granted interim protection. Three-and-a-half years have passed since
then. In these circumstances, we see no reason to alter the order at this
juncture.
"Hence, the interim protection granted to the
petitioner shall continue till the completion of further process, subject to
his diligent participation in the process, if called upon to do so," the
bench said while disposing of the plea filed by Patel.
The top court was hearing a 2020 plea filed by Patel
challenging the Gujarat High Court order rejecting his anticipatory bail plea
after considering the government's objection on grounds of his criminal
antecedents.
The Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti under Patel had
organised a mega rally in Ahmedabad as part of the stir demanding quota for the
community in government jobs and an FIR was lodged for "unlawful
assembly" as the police claimed the event did not have requisite
permissions.
The police had also contended that this unlawful
gathering led to violence, in which over a dozen youths were killed and the
property was damaged.
In his anticipatory bail plea before the high court,
Patel had claimed that he was being "victimised by the ruling party of the
state" which has slapped "several false, frivolous and concocted
cases against him".