Narmada: A Gujarat court has sentenced Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Chaitar Vasava and eight others to seven years of imprisonment in connection with a 2023 case involving the alleged assault and intimidation of forest department officials, a verdict that has triggered strong political reactions from the BJP, AAP and Congress leaders.
According to court proceedings, the Narmada Sessions Court found Vasava and his associates guilty in a case registered in 2023.
Forest officials had removed crops cultivated illegally on government land, triggering a dispute, according to the prosecution. The officials were later called to Vasava’s residence, where a heated altercation ensued.
During the confrontation, Vasava and the other accused allegedly threatened the officials, while Vasava is also accused of firing a round into the air.
The case had been under trial in the Narmada district since 2023, and the court, after examining evidence and witness testimony over nearly three years, delivered its verdict on Tuesday.
The court’s decision comes amid a series of legal challenges faced by the Dediapada MLA in recent years, including earlier cases related to alleged assault and intimidation of public officials, some of which have been reported between 2023 and 2025.
Following the sentencing, Valsad MP Dhaval Patel told IANS that the conviction was the outcome of a “merit-based” judicial process.
“In 2023, Chaitar Vasava and his associates called a forest officer to his house, assaulted him, carried out a life-threatening attack and also fired… This case has been going on in Narmada Sessions Court since 2023, and after examining all evidence and hearing witnesses, the court has held all nine accused, including MLA Chaitar Vasava, guilty and sentenced them to seven years,” Patel said.
He further claimed that this was not an isolated case and alleged that Vasava faced multiple serious accusations in the past, including assault and extortion-related cases, while also criticising his political ideology and linking the incident to wider political narratives.
BJP chief spokesperson Dr Anil Patel, responding to allegations of political motivation behind the verdict, said the judiciary had acted strictly on evidence.
“Satya Mev Jayate. No MLA or MP is above the law… When the judiciary imposes a punishment, it is based on evidence. Law is law,” he said, adding that political parties had no role in court proceedings.
Rejecting allegations that the case was politically driven, he said the matter had been under prolonged judicial scrutiny and involved multiple hearings and legal arguments.
“Based on facts and evidence, the sentence has been given. When law gives punishment, no political party has any role in it,” Patel told IANS.
He also dismissed claims regarding comparative political popularity in tribal areas, stating that electoral outcomes in local body elections reflected strong support for the ruling party across communities, including Scheduled Tribes.
Congress spokesperson Dr Manish Doshi, however, struck a cautious tone, stating that the party had not studied the full judgment and would not comment on its merits.
“We have not studied the judgment in detail. Chaitar Vasava is a young leader fighting for tribal society and is a strong representative. Every citizen has the option to challenge a court order,” Doshi said.
He added that “while Congress respects judicial processes, the party supports leaders who raise issues concerning tribal communities and alleged state policies, particularly in Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe regions”.
AAP leaders, including Gopal Italia and state president Isudan Gadhvi, strongly criticised the verdict, alleging political targeting and misuse of state machinery.
Italia said the case was part of a wider pattern of attempts to suppress tribal voices in Gujarat. “Through a false conspiracy, Chaitar was sent to jail… the entire system, including police, government lawyer and witnesses were part of it,” he said, adding that the party would challenge the verdict in higher courts.
He claimed that Vasava had consistently raised issues related to tribal land rights, education, scholarships, forest rights and local governance, and that attempts were made to pressure him to change political allegiance, which he refused.
“Chaitar Vasava is a fighter for tribal society and will not bow down,” Italia said.
AAP state president Isudan Gadhvi echoed similar concerns, alleging that Vasava had been repeatedly targeted due to his political activism.
“Chaitar Vasava has been repeatedly sent to jail because he is uncomfortable for the BJP,” Gadhvi said, adding that the party would pursue legal remedies.
Vasava, a prominent tribal leader from the Dediapada constituency in Narmada district, has been a key AAP face in Gujarat politics since the 2022 Assembly elections, where the party made its entry into the state legislature.
Since then, he has remained a politically significant but controversial figure, facing multiple criminal proceedings while maintaining strong support in parts of the tribal belt.
The sentencing is expected to further divide the political spectrum in the state.
(IANS)
