‘Law king of kings’: Gujarat High Court refuses relief to jailed AAP leader

The Gujarat High Court has denied relief to jailed AAP leader Chaitar Vasava, ruling that an MLA must guide aggrieved persons towards lawful remedies, not intimidate government officials into paying compensation. In June, Vasava and others were sentenced to jail for assault, intimidation, and extortion of forest department officials following a 2023 anti-encroachment drive in Narmada district.

Vasava challenged the ruling and sought a sentence suspension. However, the court dismissed the application, stating that Vasava's conduct was "prima facie" not befitting his position. The court emphasized that "law is the king of kings; nothing is mightier than law." Rikesh Vasava, the accused's 19-year-old son, was granted bail due to limited involvement in the incident.

Other accused, including Vasava's wife, were also released on bail. The court noted that Chaitar Vasava "misused" his bail and continued to involve himself in further offenses. The case is linked to a standoff in Narmada district's Bogaj village in October 2023, where forest officials were allegedly abused and threatened with payment for encroachment and unauthorized cultivation.

AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal, had shown support for Chaitar Vasava, visiting him in jail, which sparked political speculation about the party's strategy ahead of the 2027 Gujarat election.