The Supreme Court on Friday refused to strike off the sedition charges against 22-year-old political activist Hardik Patel, ordering that the investigation into the charges should go on.
The apex court told the Gujarat government not to file a charge-sheet in the case till the next hearing date, which has been scheduled for January 5, 2016. The court has asked the state government to complete the probe in the case in 45 days.
The sedition charge was registered against Patel by the Gujarat police after he was caught on camera asking supporters to kill policemen instead of committing suicide in the course of the Patel reservation agitation. Patel had previously moved the High Court against the charges, but the court ruled that he would be investigated for sedition.
Following this, the leader moved the Supreme Court.
Since he was arrested, Hardik has been in jail since October 19. He was taken into custody for attempting to disrupt a Rajkot one-day international cricket match between India and South Africa.