Patidar leader Hardik Patel untraceable since January 18, claims wife

Gujarat Congress leader Hardik Patel, who spearheaded the Patidar quota agitation, is untraceable since January 18 when the police arrested him a 2015 sedition case, his wife Kinjal claimed on Monday (February 10).

Patel, who is facing sedition cases related to the 2015 Patidar quota agitation, was arrested on January 18 this year after a court here issued a non-bailable warrant for not being present during hearing. He was granted bail four days later but was again picked up in connection with two other cases filed in Patan and Gandhinagar districts.

Patel got bail in these two cases on January 24. However, a trial court issued a non-bailable warrant on February 7 after he once again failed to appear for a hearing. Patel had joined the Congress in March last year ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

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“Hardik Patel has been untraceable since he was arrested on January 18. Though we do not know where he is, the police frequently visit our residence to ask me about his whereabouts,” said Kinjal at an event organised by Patidar quota leaders.

The meeting of Patidar leaders was organised here to put pressure on the state government to withdraw around 1,500 cases lodged against people who took part in the quota agitation in 2015 and before the 2017 Gujarat Assembly polls. In all, Patel faces over 20 cases registered against him across Gujarat after he led the Patidar quota stir in 2015.

(With inputs from agencies)

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