Hardik Patel’s father accuses lawyer of ‘misconduct’

AHMEDABAD: The petition filed in

Gujarat high court

by advocate B M Mangukiya for quashing of the FIR lodged in Patan against Hardik Patel fell into controversy on Thursday. Hardik’s father Bharatbhai Patel has accused lawyer Mangukiya of filing the quashing plea without any authorization.

Bharatbhai complained against the lawyer before the chief justice and the

Bar Council of Gujarat

for his alleged “professional misconduct”. He also demanded action against Mangukiya for approaching the court without any authorization from Hardik or his family. He has also alleged that advocate Mangukiya had, in the past, “misguided” his son and therefore he had written a letter to the lawyer and instructed him not to use any vakalatnama (authorization letter) for any litigation on behalf of Hardik, even if he might have obtained Hardik’s signature on such vakalatnama.

Mangukiya could not be reached for his comment.

Mangukiya has been involved with the Patidar agitation since the beginning by taking upon himself the mantle of providing legal aid to the agitators. He has been a member of the Congress party and has contested assembly elections in the past. His proximity to the agitating Patidars led the ruling BJP to urge Patidar youths not to play into the hands of the Congress party.

Advocate Mangukiya hogged the limelight when he knocked the high court’s door after midnight and filed a habeas corpus petition on behalf of Hardik’s aides. This was after Hardik had mysteriously disappeared from a small village in

Aravalli

district.

However, Hardik decided to dump Mangukiya as his advocate after he was booked and arrested for sedition charges. Since then, Mangukiya has not been engaged by Hardik though the lawyer continues to represent Hardik’s associates in various cases.

Mangukiya’s involvement in the Patidar agitation seems to have yielded some results for the Congress party too. Last week itself, Hardik hinted at supporting the party for an effective opposition to the BJP. On the other hand, Mangukiya too has been rewarded by the Congress. He has been appointed vice-president of

Gujarat

Pradesh Congress Committee.