Ahmedabad, Sep 7 (IANS) The Gujarat High Court on Monday granted seven-day temporary bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Chaitar Vasava to allow him to attend the Monsoon session of the Legislative Assembly, scheduled to be held from September 9 to 11.
Vasava, the legislator from Dediapada (ST) constituency, is currently lodged in Vadodara Central Jail after a Rajpipla sessions court in June sentenced him, his wife Shakuntala and seven others to seven years' rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 25, 000 each in a 2023 case involving the assault of forest officials and alleged extortion.
The temporary bail will run for seven days from the time of Vasava's release.
The High Court has imposed conditions, including that he remain within Gandhinagar and not address the public or the media during the bail period.
He is expected to return to jail after the temporary bail expires.
Gujarat AAP President Isudan Gadhvi said Vasava had been granted temporary bail in view of the Assembly session.
"My MLA, respected Chaitar Vasava, is in jail while the Assembly session is being held. In view of this, the High Court has granted Chaitarbhai seven days of temporary bail subject to certain conditions, " he added.
Gadhvi said that Vasava would remain in Gandhinagar and would have to comply with the restrictions, including the prohibition on speaking to the media.
The prosecution case relates to an incident on October 30, 2023, when forest officials allegedly removed crops cultivated on government land near Bogaj village in Dediapada.
According to the prosecution, the officials were subsequently called to Vasava's residence, where he allegedly threatened them, slapped one official and fired a pistol into the air. His wife was accused of extorting Rs 60, 000 from the officials.
The charges included rioting, assault on a public servant, extortion and offences under the Arms Act.
Vasava's lawyers have disputed the firearm allegation, saying that no weapon or ballistic report was produced in the case.
The High Court had on August 24 rejected Vasava's plea for regular bail and suspension of his sentence.
While doing so, the court said that, as an elected representative, he should have guided people towards legal remedies and said that releasing a convicted legislator could convey the impression that people in positions of power were above the law.
Shakuntala Vasava and four other co-convicts, who were treated as secondary accused, were granted bail in July.
Vasava has not been yet formally disqualified as an MLA.
The state government told the court that the invitation to Vasava to attend the Assembly session had been issued in accordance with the rules of the Legislature.