Gujarat BJP MLA acquitted in 2010 gets lifer for murder

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat high court on Friday sentenced Jayrajsinh Jadeja, BJP MLA from Gondal, to life imprisonment in Rayani murder case, overturning his acquittal by a trial court.

The bench headed by justice Akil Kureshi and justice BN Biren Vaishnav reversed the order of Rajkot fast track court in 2010, which had acquitted him.

The court asked Jadeja and two other convicts — Amarjit Jadeja and Mahendrasinh Rana — to produce themselves before judicial authorities by September 30. The court, however, observed that the convicts can move the higher court.

Jadeja and his aides had opened fire on Nilesh Rayani in Gondal city on February 8, 2004. The murder was the fallout of a rivalry between two group — Patels and Kshatriyas — over possession of Rajwadi, a property of the erstwhile Gondal kingdom.

The rivalry had also seen two other murders from both the groups.

“The high court also reversed the life imprisonment awarded by Rajkot fast-track court to Samirkhan Pathan, even as Jadeja and other 14 were acquitted in 2010 in the Rayani murder case,” Aftab Ansari , Pathan’s lawyer told media after the higgh court judgment. Pathan had moved the higher court in 2011.

Also accused in the case was local BJP leader Jayanti Dhol, incumbent chairman of Gondal Marketing Yard. Both Jadeja and Dhol were accused of opening fire, while their supporters, all of whom had chased down Rayani

in three cars, had attacked the victim and his two aides with weapons. Dhol was acquitted by the Rajkot fast track court.