The police have booked Congress Dalit leader Rajesh alias Raju Solanki and four of his family members under the Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime (GUJCTOC) Act, for allegedly running a crime syndicate since 2014. Last month, Raju threatened to convert to Islam if the state government didn’t take action against Gondal BJP MLA Geetaba Jadeja and her husband in connection with the alleged assault on his son.
Based on a complaint filed by inspector JJ Patel, in-charge of Local Crime Branch (LCB), Junagadh district, an FIR under GUJCTOC Act Sections 3(1)(2), 3(4) — related to organised crime — and the Arms Act was registered at A Division Police Station in Junagadh Saturday morning. Patel named Raju, his brother Jayesh, his sons Sanjay and Dev and nephew Yogesh Bagda as accused.
Rajesh Solanki, president of the Congress’s Junagadh city SC/ST cell, had demanded the resignation of Geetaba Jadeja and arrest of her husband Jayrajsinh, who is also a former three-time MLA. Their son Jyotiradityasinh, 25, was booked by the Gujarat police on May 31 for allegedly kidnapping Sanjay, the son of Solanki. Jyotiradityasinh was subsequently arrested by the police.
Sanjay had alleged in his complaint that following an argument with the MLA’s son’s driving, the accused had taken him to Gondal in Rajkot district, before stripping him and forcing him to apologise. The accused had threatened him with a pistol and recorded his apology. Earlier, Solanki had said that If the government and the BJP don’t listen to us and agree to our demands, we shall lead a huge rally to Gandhinagar and and submit memorandums to the Chief Minister, Governor and the BJP president to demand justice for Dalits. If the government doesn’t move even after that, we shall convert to Islam as it won’t make sense to be part of a religion whose members break our backs, but who are happy to marry their daughters to those who offer namaz while refusing to acknowledge us as fellow Hindus,” said Solaki.
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