Mehsana/Ahmedabad (Guj): A court in Visnagar on Wednesday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against quota agitation spearhead Hardik Patel after he failed to appear before it for the second consecutive time in a case of vandalising the office of a BJP MLA during the quota stir in 2015.
The warrant was issued against Hardik Patel, convener of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), and six others.
Hardik Patel and others are accused of ransacking the office of Visnagar MLA Rishikesh Patel during the protest rally of Patidar community in July 2015. Hardik Patel and others had in the past secured bail in the case.
The quota leader, through his lawyer Rajendra Patel, on Wednesday moved an application seeking exemption from personal appearance citing his busy schedule. However, the court rejected his plea.
While the PAAS convener failed to appear before the court for second time, including Wednesday, Lalji Patel and others remained absent for the first time.
Meanwhile, a court in Gandhinagar on Wednesday ordered inquiry into a complaint by Narendra Patel, member of the Hardik Patel-led PAAS, that BJP leaders offered him a bribe to join the party.
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate R. Trivedi ordered ‘court inquiry’ after hearing the PAAS leader’s lawyer, and asked him to submit evidence on November 3.
