The Gujarat High Court on Monday granted seven days of temporary bail to jailed Aam Aadmi Party legislator Chaitar Vasava, enabling him to attend the forthcoming monsoon session of the state Legislative Assembly.
Vasava, who represents the Dediapada constituency, is currently held at Vadodara Central Jail. His one-week release begins from the time he leaves prison. The court ordered strict restrictions on his movement during the bail term, barring him from traveling outside Gandhinagar and prohibiting him from speaking to the press or addressing public gatherings. The legislative session will take place from September 9 to 11.
Legislative Attendance And Bail Conditions
State authorities confirmed that the invitation to attend the session was issued pursuant to statutory Assembly rules. Vasava has not been formally disqualified from the legislature despite his conviction. Once the seven-day temporary release concludes, the lawmaker is scheduled to surrender back to jail custody.
Conviction And Underlying Charges
The legislator has been incarcerated since June, when a sessions court in Rajpipla sentenced him, his wife Shakuntala, and seven other individuals to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and levied a fine of ₹25,000 against each defendant.
The case originates from an October 30, 2023, confrontation after forest department personnel cleared agricultural crops planted on government land close to Bogaj village in Dediapada. According to the prosecution, the personnel were subsequently summoned to Vasava’s residence, where the MLA allegedly threatened the team, struck an officer, and discharged a firearm into the air, while his wife allegedly extorted ₹60,000. Authorities filed charges including assault on a public servant, extortion, rioting, and offenses under the Arms Act.
Defense Claims And Judicial History
Vasava’s legal representatives challenged the weapon allegations during proceedings, arguing that investigators failed to introduce either the alleged firearm or a supporting ballistic report. His appeal challenging the conviction remains pending before the judiciary.
His wife and four other co-defendants secured bail in July after being classified as secondary accused in the case.
The grant of temporary relief follows an August 24 ruling in which the Gujarat High Court dismissed Vasava’s request for regular bail and declined to suspend his sentence. In that decision, the bench reasoned that an elected official holds a responsibility to steer citizens toward lawful avenues and noted that releasing a convicted lawmaker could foster a perception that political figures operate outside the reach of the law. The court had also highlighted his prior record and cited an alleged misuse of earlier release in rejecting that application.
