Bigger Rajkot haul: 170 swords now

Mansukh Patel, a Bajrang Dal activist arrested in connection with the seizure from the jeep had said he had procured the swords from the Chauhans. Two persons were arrested in connection with the Chotila seizure.

Police said that Prabhubhai and Channabhai Chauhan had been dealing in swords for the last five years, and would sell them to any buyer.

Meanwhile, first class judicial magistrate S.M. Soni on Wednesday rejected the five-day police remand plea for Mansukh Patel, a Junagadh-based Bajrang Dal activist arrested by Rajkot police on Wednesday for violating the public notification banning carrying of arms.

Around 99 swords and 200 sharp weapons or guptis were seized from Patel while he was enroute to Junagadh in a hired jeep. The remand application for Channabhai Chauhan, a shopkeeper in Chotila from whom Patel had purchased the weapons, was also rejected as the charge against both was only of violating the notification.

‘‘Police wanted remand of the duo to get to the root of the weapons consignment but since there was no strong evidence, they were booked only under Section 144 for violating the notification,’’ said Commissioner of Police Upendra Singh.

Though bail has been granted, police can interrogate Patel for two days — Thursday and Friday — for six hours from 11 am to 5 pm. Singh said they could also be summoned at any other time later.

Police Inspector in Detection of Crime Branch K.N. Patel, who argued on behalf of Rajkot police, said that in view of the tension prevailing in the state, the police through the remand wanted to know why the consignment was sent and the source of the money used to buy the weapons.

Patel added that as the police could not prove that the weapons were used or going to be used for any illegal purpose, the remand plea was rejected.

Patel’s and Chauhan’s lawyer Piyush Shah argued that there was no need for remand as the police had already recovered weapons from the duo and the seized weapons were meant for self defence.

The court accepted the bail of driver Dinesh Hasmukh Vekaria, a 17-year-old youth, and his case has been transferred to juvenile court, said K.N. Patel. During cross-examination today, Manshukh Patel told police that he had paid Rs 10,000 to Chauhan of which Rs 5,000 was his own money and the rest came from a friend.

Besides the Rs 10,000, Patel said that he still had to Rs 15,000 to Chauhan for purchasing weapons. ‘‘We will cross-examine Patel to find out whether the funds came from some organisation,’’ said inspector. Junagadh Superintendent of Police S.S. Trivedi said Patel, an active member of the Bajrang Dal, had no criminal record.

Reacting to the seizure of arms, Bajrang Dal convenor Surendra Jain said the state police had started ‘‘acting tough’’ with VHP and Bajrang Dal activists under the influence of Muslim and secular leaders. ‘‘The police are trying to frame VHP and Bajrang Dal leaders in false cases,’’ he alleged.