Assam Court Drops Charges Against Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani

A district court in Barpeta, Assam, has removed charges of obscene acts and assault of a public servant from a case involving Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani.

The case stems from an alleged assault on a female police officer while she, along with other senior officers, was escorting Mevani from Guwahati airport to Kokrajhar in April of the previous year following his arrest.

Mevani, a Congress leader, was first arrested on April 19 in Palanpur, Gujarat, and subsequently transported to Kokrajhar, where a case was registered against him for tweeting about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shortly after being released on bail in that case, he was arrested again on April 25 in another case filed at the Barpeta Road police station, where he was accused of assaulting the female police officer. On April 29, the Barpeta court granted him bail.

While IPC sections 294 and 353 were dropped from the second case, Mevani is still required to address the other charges brought against him. Section 294 pertains to any obscene act in a public place, while section 353 deals with assault or the use of criminal force to deter a public servant from the discharge of their duties.

Mevani’s advocate, Billal Hussain, noted, “We are aware that these two sections have been dropped against him. However, we are yet to receive the certified copy, and we will only know the details after obtaining it.”

Outside the court, Mevani expressed his confidence in the judicial system, stating, “My discharge application was taken up by the court today. The court has dropped IPC sections 294 and 353 from the case against me. Now, the case will proceed based on the other sections that were registered.” He also mentioned that the next hearing is scheduled for October, and he intends to appear for it.

Mevani emphasized his respect for the judiciary and his willingness to undergo all legal procedures, affirming, “I respect the judiciary and have faith in it. I will face all legal procedures.”