Alpesh Kathiriya bail: Sessions Court rejects Gujarat govt’s plea

The city sessions court in Ahmedabad on Wednesday rejected an application of the state seeking cancellation of the bail given to PAAS leader Alpesh Kathiriya in connection with a sedition case. The government had sought cancellation of the bail on the grounds of violation of bail conditions. 

The court has however asked the PAAS leader to ensure that he appears before the superintendent of the Metropolitan Cout on every 15th and 29th of the month until the trial continues in the sessions court. Rafik Lokhandwala argued on behalf of Kathriya.

The state had moved its plea for revocation of bail in September first week. Kathiriya was charged with sedition following the August 2015 agitation for reservation carried out by Patel community in Gujarat. The agitation resulted in large scale violence in the state. 

Earlier in November 2018, the PAAS leader had been granted bail by the Gujarat High Court in connection with another case filed by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch. 

The high court had granted him bail on the condition that he will not enter Surat. Both Kathiriya and Hardik Patel had been booked in two sedition cases in Ahmedabad and Surat. Patel and others were granted bail but Kathiriya continued to languish in jail for long. 

The present case pertains to the one filed against him in Ahmedabad. The Surat police had also earlier moved a similar plea pointing that his bail should be cancelled as he had violated bail conditions.