Hardik Patel sentenced to 2 years in jail in 2015 riots case

Hardik Patel, the 24-year-old face of the Patidar campaign in Gujarat, has been sentenced by a court in Visnagar to two years in jail and fined Rs 50, 000 in a 2015 riot case.

Hardik, along with two of his aides, Lalji Patel and A K Patel, has been found guilty of vandalising a BJP MLA’s office in Visnagar. The other 14 accused were let off by the court for want of enough evidence against them.

However, the three have been granted bail. Ahead of the court verdict, Patel, in a video message posted on his Facebook page, appealed to his supporters to remain calm in case it goes against him.

In 2015, a mob of around 3000 to 5000 people vandalised BJP MLA Rushikesh Patel’s office during the patidar reservation protests. A total of 17 people, including Hardik, were charged with arson, rioting, damage to property and unlawful assembly. The other 14 accused were let off by the court for lack of enough evidence against them.

Hardik, who was arrested and released on bail, was barred by the court from entering Mehsana district in connection with this case. The protests demanding reservation for patidars in government jobs and educational institutions had turned violent, leaving 14 dead in police firing.