Jignesh Mevani re-arrested after getting bail; know the reason here

• Image Credit: Internet

• Apr 25, 2022 | Dhupali Das

Mevani was first detained by an Assam police team in Gujarat's Palanpur on Thursday after a local BJP leader in Assam's Kokrajhar lodged a complaint against him.

Digital Desk: Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani was re-arrested in a new case today, barely hours after an Assam court granted him bail in a case involving tweets about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Yesterday, the court had reserved its decision on the bail application in the tweets case.

Reportedly, in the new case against him, he is accused of "assaulting and outraging" the modesty of a female police officer.

Assam police from Barpeta arrested Mevani under sections of the Indian Penal Code linked to willingly causing harm and stopping a government officer from doing their work.

Mevani was first detained by an Assam police team in Gujarat's Palanpur on Thursday after a local BJP leader in Assam's Kokrajhar lodged a complaint against him.  Mevani, an outspoken critic of Prime Minister Modi, has described his detention as "grudge politics by the PMO."

"The RSS and the BJP are conspiring against me. They did it to smear my reputation. They've been doing it in a systematic manner. They did the same to Rohit Vemula, Chandrasekhar Azad, and now they're aiming me," Mevani told reporters.

The 41-year-old has been charged with criminal conspiracy, trespassing near a place of worship, inciting religious fervour, and provocation that could lead to a breach of peace.

Mevani's tweets, according to BJP leader Arup Kumar Dey, are likely to excite a part of the public belonging to a specific community.

Mevani has been trying to divide people by his posts and always speaks negatively about Prime Minister Modi," Dey said in an interview.

"We are fortunate to have Modi ji as our Prime Minister, and Mevani is attempting to link his name with recent violences. Is Prime Minister Narendra Modi to blame for this? What proof does he have that Godse is Prime Minister Modi's God?," he added.

Meanwhile, Congress alleged that the arrest was made within 24 hours of the complaints because of the upcoming assembly elections in Gujarat, which the BJP has ruled since 1995.

Commenting on the incident, Congress's Rahul Gandhi Tweeted, "Modi Ji, you can try to crush dissent by abusing the state machinery. But you can never imprison the truth." 

Mevani, an Independent MLA from Banaskantha's Vadgam constituency, has previously stated that he would run for Congress in the next elections.