A local court in Vadodara Wednesday remanded suspended Gujarat BJP leader Jayesh Patel to 8-day police custody for alleged rape of a nursing student at Parul University at Waghodia. The court also rejected Patel’s demand for a helper. The court order stated: “The police can take him for any medical assistance as needed; we do not see any need for a helper.” Patel, 66, was arrested by Vadodara rural police on Tuesday. Vadodara police Wednesday submitted an application before the court of the Judicial Magistrate First Class at Waghodia, seeking Patel’s eight-day remand. “Patel was produced in a local court at Waghodia this evening and after hearing arguments from both sides (defence and prosecution), the court remanded him to eight-day police custody till June 30,” G S Malik, Inspector General (Vadodara Range), said.
The Vadodara police stated in the remand plea that Patel, the trustee of privately-run Parul University, used his “constitutional rights” to submit in writing that he was “not bound to share his blood samples” in the case as it was of no consequence to the case. They said that Patel “wasted much time” and remained uncooperative during medical tests after he was arrested. The remand plea states that Patel, who seems to have extensive “medical knowledge” and know-how of police procedures, also needs to explain the whereabouts of the fourth student of the college who was having “beer” with him in his quarters when the victim was taken there, as alleged by her in the FIR.
The remand plea states that Patel, who was booked on charges of rape on Friday night, had been on the run for the last five days. He was arrested on Tuesday night near Asodar crossroads in Anand, driving a white sedan and believed to be returning from Rajasthan. The remand application also states that co-accused Bhavna Chauhan, who is the rector of the nursing hostel, has been misleading the police investigations and it is necessary to make Patel and Chauhan sit together for a joint interrogation. Defence counsel Kaushik Bhatt, appearing for Jayesh Patel, told court that Patel suffered from diabetes and a serious liver ailment.
Earlier in the day, Vadodara Superintendent of Police Saurabh Tolumbia said Patel was uncooperative throughout the mandatory medical test for which he was taken to the Waghodia primary health centre (PHC) on Wednesday afternoon. “Jayesh Patel has been totally uncooperative in the probe. The medical team was unable to extract any sample for DNA tests to match the samples with the victim’s clothes or determine his sexual fitness to commit the offense like rape. He is a very smart man and is trying to buy time. We have sought reference to a medical board from the PHC doctor. We will extract his samples tomorrow before the board either in a Vadodara hospital or Ahmedabad,” Tolumbia told. A police officer said Patel had refused to eat meals since his arrest. “He is a diabetic. We recovered medicines for diabetes from his car. But despite attempts to question him or make him eat, he has refused to comply. We are seeking the advice of our seniors as we might need medical assistance to keep him fit for the probe.” Meanwhile, Patel’s family remained unavailable for comment. Sources close to the family said Patel’s son, Devanshu, has sought legal assistance from a family lawyer, who will soon appear on behalf of Patel.
