Hardik Patel, two aides sentenced to 2 years in jail

A court in Gujarat on Wednesday sentenced Patidar quota leader Hardik Patel and his aides, Lalji Patel and A.K. Patel, to two-year imprisonment in a rioting case.

The Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader and his aides were found guilty of rioting, arson, damage to property and unlawful assembly when they attacked BJP legislator Rushikesh Patel’s office in Visnagar on July 23, 2015 during the quota stir that rocked the State.

The three have also been fined Rs 50,000 each. The court, however, granted bail to them with a direction that they will have to file an appeal in the Gujarat High Court within a month.

In a complaint lodged against 18 persons, Hardik had been named as key accused as he led a rally of a group of around 500 people from the Patel community that turned violent, resulting in damage to property and assault on some media persons.