The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Director General of Police (DGP) regarding the Amreli letter scandal, demanding a detailed explanation within two weeks. The notice addresses alleged human rights violations, focusing particularly on the late-night arrest and public parade of a young Patidar woman, Payal Goti.
The case centres on a fake letter that went viral on social media, supposedly written on the letterhead of Taluka Panchayat President Kishor Kanpariya. The letter accused BJP MLA Kaushik Vekariya of serious misconduct.
Kanpariya lodged a police complaint and informed Union Minister C R Patil, prompting the matter to be escalated to Gandhinagar. This led to the involvement of the Local Crime Branch and Cyber Crime teams.
The NHRC has now directed the DGP to clarify whether the incident constituted a breach of human rights, reiterating the requirement for a response within two weeks.
The investigation resulted in the arrest of four individuals, including a former BJP official. Among those arrested was typist Payal Goti, whose public parade by the police sparked widespread criticism.
Following her release from jail, Goti alleged that she was assaulted by the police, triggering protests and demands for justice from community leaders and politicians.
In response, the state police suspended three officers from the Local Crime Branch. Furthermore, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by IPS officer Nirlipt Rai, known for his efforts in tackling liquor smuggling in Gujarat, was appointed to conduct an impartial inquiry.
The Patidar community has played a pivotal role in this case, with key figures involved – including MLA Kaushik Vekariya, Congress leader Paresh Dhanani, and Payal Goti – all belonging to the influential Leuva Patel sub-group.
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