Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani Sent To Police Remand For Three Days In Assam
Mevani, an independent MLA supported by the Congress, was produced before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate after arrival from Ahmadabad via Guwahati in the evening.
New Delhi: Congress MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani, who was arrested by Assam Police under charges of criminal conspiracy and promoting enmity between two communities, has been remanded to three days police custody by a court in Assam on Thursday.
Mevani, an independent MLA supported by the Congress, was produced before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate after arrival from Ahmadabad via Guwahati in the evening.
According to a report by news agency PTI, Manoj Bhagawati, advocate appearing for Mevani, said that the police had sought 14 days custody, to which they objected. After hearing both sides, the court gave three days police remand and ordered that during this time, he cannot be taken anywhere outside Kokrajhar.
Bhagawati, who was deputed by Assam Congress for Mevani, added that a bail plea moved on Mevani's behalf was, however, rejected by the court.
According to the FIR registered against Mevani, he had allegedly written a tweet claiming Prime Minister Narendra Modi "considered Godse as God".
Meanwhile, miffed with Mevani's arrest, the Gujarat Congress leaders staged a demonstration near Sarangpur circle in the city demanding his release.
Condemning the arrest of Gujarat legislator Jignesh Mevani, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying the PM cannot ‘imprison truth by trying to crush dissent’.
Taking to his Twitter handle, Gandhi wrote, “Modi ji, you can try to crush dissent by abusing the state machinery. But you can never imprison the truth," using hashtag "#DaroMat" and "#SatyamevaJayate.
"Assam police took custody of Mevani from Palanpur circuit house late on Wednesday night and took him with them to Assam after informing the local police," PTI quoted an official of Banaskantha police station in Gujarat as saying.
READ | Gujarat Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani Arrested Over Criminal Conspiracy Charges For A Tweet On PM Modi
It is to be noted that Mevani has been arrested after an FIR under section 153A of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with offences related to promoting enmity between communities, was registered at Kokrajhar police station in Assam.
"As per a document shared by the officials of the Assam police, an FIR has been lodged over a tweet by Mevani few days back. However, the tweet has been withheld by Twitter," Mevani's aide Suresh Jat said.
Apart from section 153A of the IPC, Mevani has also been booked under section 295A (malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 504 (provocation with an intention to break public peace) and under relevant sections of the IT Act.