A court in Gujarat’s Narmada district has convicted Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Chaitar Vasava, his wife Shakuntala Vasava, and seven others in a 2023 case involving the assault and intimidation of forest department officials. The incident occurred in Dediapada on October 30, 2023. The court found the nine accused guilty in connection with this incident.
Arguments on the sentencing are pending, and the punishment is yet to be announced. The case stemmed from forest officials removing crops grown on forest land against imposed restrictions. Villagers were directed to clear alleged encroachments from the forest land in the area. The accused demanded compensation for the affected villagers whose crops were removed.
Vasava, along with others, was accused of verbally abusing, threatening, and physically assaulting forest officials. The charges included rioting, extortion, criminal intimidation of public servants, and violations under the Arms Act. Vasava’s Personal Assistant also contacted forest officials demanding compensation for the affected villagers. Some of the accused were arrested earlier, while Vasava surrendered later.
Shakuntala Vasava, a member of the Narmada District Panchayat, Vasava’s aide Jitendra, and other residents were among those convicted. Vasava, known for his tribal advocacy, had won the Dediapada Assembly constituency in the 2022 Gujarat elections. The conviction holds significance for the AAP in Gujarat, especially in the tribal belt of south Gujarat where Vasava is a prominent leader. The party is yet to comment on the verdict.
