Legal troubles have mounted for Gujarat Congress leader and legislator Jignesh Mevani following the registration of a criminal case against him in Gandhinagar district. The complaint was lodged at Pethapur police station under several serious statutory sections, accusing him of creating a disturbance inside the station premises and making inflammatory remarks during an ongoing inquiry.
The Pethapur Police Station Incident
According to the details set out in the First Information Report, the incident occurred on 9 October amidst election campaign activities in Gandhinagar. Police officials at Pethapur police station were in the middle of recording a statement from a Congress candidate regarding an application filed against the candidate. During this procedure, Jignesh Mevani arrived at the police station accompanied by a gathering of his supporters.
The complaint states that he directly disrupted official police proceedings. Beyond creating an obstacle to duty, he allegedly deployed objectionable language and delivered fact-free, provocative assertions inside the police station. The official complaint notes that these statements were capable of inciting social discord and creating ill will within the public.
Amplification on Social Media and Invoked Sections
The First Information Report highlights that Jignesh Mevani did not limit these assertions to the police station alone; he actively amplified and shared them through his social media accounts with the purpose of misleading the wider public. While he had previously found himself in controversy over outspoken and provocative commentary, this case marks the first instance where formal legal action has been initiated against him over such conduct.
Law enforcement authorities at Pethapur have booked the legislator under a comprehensive array of legal provisions
- Section 189(2): Penalties relating to unlawful assembly.
- Section 190: Imposition of joint liability for acts committed in pursuit of a common object.
- Section 191(2): Punishment prescribed for committing rioting.
- Section 221: Obstructing a public servant from discharging lawful duties.
- Section 351(2): Penalties prescribed for criminal intimidation.
- Section 352: Intentional insult designed to provoke a breach of the peace.
- Section 353(1)(b): Circulating false statements or rumours calculated to generate fear or alarm among the public.
- Section 353(1)(c): Disseminating false information intended to incite one community or class against another.
- Section 353(2): Promoting feelings of enmity, hatred, or ill will between distinct religious, racial, linguistic, regional, or caste groups.
Context of Legislative Controversies in Gujarat
This action against Jignesh Mevani comes against the backdrop of other recent regulatory and procedural challenges encountered by opposition lawmakers in the state. Earlier, Congress MLA Imran Khedawala faced procedural scrutiny over an alleged insult to Vande Mataram, prompting Gujarat Legislative Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary to order a rigorous probe by the Privileges Committee.
