Gujarat: 65 AAP leaders arrested for protest outside BJP headquarters got bail

After spending ten days in jail for protesting outside the BJP headquarters in Gandhinagar, at least 65 Aam Aadmi Party leaders, including state president Gopal Italia, were granted bail by a court in Gandhinagar on Thursday afternoon. Ten college students are among those imprisoned.

"Today, the court has granted bail to the 65 AAP leaders who have been at Sabarmati Central Jail since December 20. We are yet to receive the copy of the bail order and I believe by evening, they may be released," Pranav Thakkar, the legal counsel of AAP Gujarat, said.

The members are expected to be released in the evening from the Sabarmati Central Prison. All of those arrested are accused of violating 22 provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including criminal conspiracy, as well as portions of the Epidemic Diseases Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.

A total of 93 persons were detained, with 28 of the women accused previously being released on restricted bond.

About 500 AAP supporters organised a protest outside the BJP's Shree Kamalam office in Gandhinagar, and those arrested were among them. They requested that Asit Vora, a BJP official and the chairman of the Gujarat Subordinate Service Selection Board (GSSSB), which administered the exam to hire head clerks, be removed.

On December 12, 88,000 candidates took the written exam to compete for 186 positions. The question paper was allegedly leaked and sold in advance for Rs 8-12 lakh, according to the AAP. While the administration ultimately cancelled the exam and postponed it for March 2022, the police detained 18 people suspected of being involved in the scheme. The protest sparked a brawl between AAP and BJP workers, prompting the police to use a lathicharge to disperse the crowd.

Following that, the Gandhinagar Police filed a FIR against AAP state president Gopal Italia, women's wing president Gauri Desai, youth wing president Nikhil Savani, senior officials Isudan Gadhvi and Hasmukh Patel, and 500 unknown persons, based on a complaint from a female BJP worker. Following that, 93 members were apprehended by the police.