Gujarat High Court Quashes Non-Bailable Warrant Issued Against BJP MLA Hardik Patel In 2018 FIR Related To Patidar Quota Agitation

The Gujarat High Court dealt with an application by BJP MLA Hardik Bharatbhai Patel seeking quashing of a non-bailable warrant issued in connection with a 2018 FIR arising from the Patidar quota agitation. The trial court had rejected Patel’s application for exemption from personal appearance and issued an NBW. Before the High Court, Patel furnished a written undertaking that he would attend the proceedings before the concerned magistrate and comply with subsequent hearing dates unless exempted by the trial court. Taking the undertaking on record, Justice Nirzar Desai quashed and set aside the NBW issued on 26.08.2025 while expressly not touching the merits of the underlying criminal proceedings. The order records that the quashing is founded on the assurance of regular attendance and clarifies that the High Court has made no pronouncement on the substantive allegations. The judgment reflects the court’s practice of balancing procedural safeguards with the need to ensure accused persons’ presence for trial, and it underscores the role of judicial discretion in dealing with arrest warrants where meaningful assurances are placed on record. Case and order details are provided in the citation (2025 LiveLaw (Guj) 153) and the file R/CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION NO. 19917 of 2025.