Non bailable warrant issued against Hardik Patel

A local court in Gujarat issued non-bailable warrant against Patidar quota agitation leader Hardik Patel after he failed to appear before the court in a case related to vandalising a BJP legislator’s office in Visnagar from where the quota agitation was launched in 2015.

A case was registered against Mr. Hardik Patel, leader of the stir, and 17 others in 2015 for ransacking the office of Rushikesh Patel during a protest rally.

Another warrant had been issued against another leader Lalji Patel, who questioned the timing contending that at a time when anti-BJP atmosphere was prevailing ahead of the Assembly polls, the Patidar leaders were being targeted by the authorities.

“I have attended all hearings in the court regularly,” Mr. Patel, who heads the Sardar Patel Group, told reporters in Mehsana district.