Denied entry at garba, minister’s sons beat up four

The power their father holds seems to have gone to their head. Which is why Jitu and Alpesh Vaghela, sons of Gujarat Social Justice and Empo...

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The power their father holds seems to have gone to their head. Which is why Jitu and Alpesh Vaghela, sons of Gujarat Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Fakirbhai Vaghela, allegedly forced their way into a garba venue in Gandhinagar on Tuesday night and beat up four people, including a constable and the son of a senior IPS officer.

The two, accompanied by Jitu’s brother-in-law Amit Rathod, were reportedly drunk and had been stopped from entering without a pass.

The Minister’s sons were arrested but managed to get away later. They were admitted to Civil Hospital as Vaghela alleged police torture. Sources said Fakirbhai called up Minister of State for Home Gordhan Zadaphia and threatened to resign if his sons were touched.

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He reportedly tried to prevent registration of the injured constable’s FIR, then pressurised the police to register a counter-complaint. Ultimately, a counter-complaint — against IPS officer D.G. Vanzara, his sons Pruthviraj and Arjun and brother Vanraj — stated they had attempted to strangle Jitu Vaghela and damaged his car.

But eyewitnesses said trouble broke out at the garba programme when the Minister’s sons and their friends attempted to gatecrash. The DCP’s son, one of the organisers, tried to prevent them but was abused and attacked with an iron rod. This brought Pruthviraj’s friends, DCP Vanzara and others to the scene and a scuffle broke out.

While Vaghela alleged that the DCP thrashed his sons in the presence of police, Vanzara said.

‘‘On the contrary, his sons had attacked my son, the constable and others. Jitu and Alpesh Vaghela have created such scenes earlier too.’’