Gujarat: On Wednesday, session court issued a bailable warrant against Patidar quota agitation leader Hardik Patel. The warrant is issued against Hardik Patel for not being present during proceedings of the framing of charges against him and others in a sedition case.

Judge DP Mahida issued the warrant and posted the matter for 25 April for hearing on the framing of charges. In February 2018, the court had rejected Patel's discharge application.

A sedition case was registered against Patel by Ahmedabad crime branch. The accused is charged on the grounds of violence during the agitation for OBS quota for the Patidar Community in 2015. Patel and others are found guilty of inciting violence with the intention to dislodge the government. The incident took place during a rally addressed by him which turned violent in August 2015. At least 13 people died in the violence.

Mentioned six accused in the FIR, two are yet to be arrested. While another person, Ketan Patel, has turned into a prosecution witness. Hardik Patel, Dinesh Bambhaniya, and Chirag Patel were arrested and got bail. Chirag Patel was also absent during today's proceedings, while Bambhaniya remained present.

In the charge sheet, the police termed the agitation created by Patel as a "pre-planned conspiracy", meant to put influence on the state government to accept their "unconstitutional demand of quota".