Now you won't have any issue even if his conviction is set aside: Gujarat High Court after State consents to Hardik Patel campaigning in Mehsana

The Gujarat High Court on Friday allowed BJP candidate Hardik Patel to enter and campaign for his party in Mehsana district, where his entry was barred as a bail condition imposed on him by a sessions court in 2018 [Hardik Bharatbhai Patel vs State of Gujarat]..Single-judge Justice S H Vora allowed Patel to enter Mehsana for a year for attending political campaigns for the forthcoming State Assembly Elections, after the State consented for the same.After Chief Public Prosecutor (PP) Mitesh Amin gave the consent to allow Patel's plea, the judge quipped, "Now you (State) won't have any problem even if his conviction is set aside."Prior to joining BJP, Patel was a Congress party leader when he was charged with various offences. Patel was convicted by a court in Visnagar for attacking the office of the present health minister Rushikesh Patel. The incident took place in 2015, when Patel had carried out a huge rally along with youth from the Patidar community seeking reservation for the said community. He was convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment.However, before his conviction, the trial court had granted him bail pending the trial and had then imposed a condition that he would not enter Mehsana district. This condition was even maintained by the Gujarat High Court, which had granted him bail after his conviction..When the matter was called out, Chief PP Amin apprised the bench of the fact that Patel has moved two applications - one seeking temporary relaxation of the bail condition for a year and the other for permanent relaxation, so that he can enter the district and attend the religious and social functions. The judge clarified that he would only consider the plea for temporary relaxation as of now and keep the other plea for permanent relaxation on a later date. At this, PP Amin in a lighter vein submitted that he had sought a prior clarification on this from Patel. "Had asked him if later there won't be any changes (in terms of political party) and he has said no there won't be any change," Amin said. At this, Justice Vora, maintaining the lighter vein, responded in Gujarati, "No, I was on the point of there is no confirmation of you (BJP government returning in Gujarat)." Amin instantly replied, "I get what your lordships mean but I can say there won't be any change. It can certainly be written on the wall that we will come (to power) that will on (December) 8. On 8th (of December) that will happen." The entire exchange was in the context of Patel becoming a member of the BJP. He initially rose to fame for his staunch opposition to the BJP but has now joined the party and is also contesting as BJP candidate in the forthcoming polls, results of which would be announced on December 8..Meanwhile, in the order, the judge noted that given the fact that elections are around the corner, Patel will have to travel across the State."According to the applicant, he is a social worker and a member of BJP and he is aspiring candidate to contest the upcoming Gujarat Assembly Election and in view of such position, he needs to travel frequently in various parts of Gujarat including Mehsana for campaigning and fulfilling the political obligation cast upon him," the bench noted while allowing his entry..Advocate Rafik Lokhandwala appeared for Patel.Chief Public Prosecutor Mitesh Amin represented the State..[Read Order]