1 week ago
Gujarat High Court Denies Relief to Jailed AAP MLA
The Gujarat High Court decided that MLA Chaitar Vasava should remain in jail for now.
He had asked the court to pause his sentence and release him on bail.
The case concerns a 2023 fight involving forest officials and people accused of using forest land illegally.
Prosecutors said the officials were insulted, threatened and pressured to pay compensation.
They also said a gun was brought and fired into the air.
The court said an elected representative should help people use legal solutions instead of threatening government workers.
It also said releasing him could make people think powerful individuals are above the law.
However, the court released 19-year-old Rikesh Vasava on bail and suspended his sentence.
The Gujarat High Court rejected AAP MLA Chaitar Vasava’s request to suspend his sentence and grant bail.
Vasava and others were sentenced over alleged assault, intimidation and extortion of forest officials in Narmada district.
The prosecution said officials were threatened and coerced into paying Rs 60,000 to people accused of encroaching on forest land.
The court said Vasava, as an MLA, should have directed complainants toward lawful remedies rather than intimidate officials.
The court suspended 19-year-old Rikesh Vasava’s sentence and granted him bail, while other accused, including Shakuntala Vasava, also received bail.
- Who
- AAP MLA Chaitar Vasava and personal assistant Jitendra Vasava; the case also involved Rikesh Vasava and other accused.
- What
- The Gujarat High Court rejected Chaitar Vasava’s application to suspend his sentence and grant bail, while granting relief to Rikesh Vasava.
- Where
- The case concerns an incident in Bogaj village, Narmada district, Gujarat, and was heard by the Gujarat High Court.
- When
- The High Court ruling was delivered on Monday; the underlying incident occurred on October 30, 2023, and the trial court sentenced Vasava and others on June 23.
- Why
- The court cited allegations of assault, intimidation and extortion involving forest officials, and said Vasava had misused bail and acted improperly as an MLA.
Key facts
- Accused MLA
- Chaitar Vasava, AAP legislator from Dediapada
- Underlying incident
- October 30, 2023, in Bogaj village, Narmada district
- Allegations
- Assault, intimidation and extortion of forest department officials
- Compensation allegation
- Officials were allegedly coerced into arranging Rs 60,000 for people accused of encroaching on forest land
- High Court decision
- Sentence-suspension applications by Chaitar Vasava and Jitendra Vasava were dismissed
- Relief granted
- Rikesh Vasava’s sentence was suspended and he was granted bail
- Political support
- Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann visited Chaitar Vasava in jail on August 18
Quotes
Justice Vimal K Vyas
Gujarat High Court judge who ruled on the sentence-suspension applications.
“An order suspending the sentence and enlarging the accused on bail may create a perception in the society that persons in power are beyond the reach of law and may commit the offences without fear and legal consequences.”
indianexpress.com
“Law is the king of kings; nothing is mightier than law.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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