Surat: Mahesh Savani, realty businessman, formerly into diamond business in Surat city who is known for his social service of sponsoring weddings of hundreds of girls belonging to economic weak class has today joined Aam Admi Party (AAP). Savani was inducted to AAP by Delhi’s deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in Surat today. Savani addressing the media said he has joined AAP with krantikari (revolutionary) thoughts. He said he is ready to have a bullet in his chest after taking this decision. Savani alleged that he was not allowed to open covid care centre during pandemic because he would sit and seen with political opponents of ruling party. Savani admired public schools run by AAP ruled Delhi government that he visited in person. Mahesh Savani himself runs PP Savani school and other education institutes in Surat.

Savani had wished for Lok Sabha ticket of BJP in 2019

Savani’s political ambitions are not new. In 2019, Savani had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah in New Delhi ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and expressed his desire to contest the LS polls from Surat on BJP ticket. However he was denied a ticket. Savani was in 2015-16 supporting Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) in Surat. He had also acted as a mediator between PAAS leaders and state government.

Savani joined diamond business of his father in 1990. In 2003 he faced a few cases against him over diamond import related issues. He shifted to Belgium for three years after this and later returned to Surat after his acquittal in cases. He then started his realty business in 2008. Diploma in civil engineer, Savani was booked by Umra Police in kidnapping case of a builder Gautam Patel in year 2020. A victim builder had alleged that Savani and his aides had kidnapped him in a car and thrashed to pressurize transfer of a bungalow in exchange of pending payment of Rs. 3 crore or hand over the sum. The offence punishable under Sections 365, 384, 323, 504, 511, 143, 147, 342 of the Indian Penal Code was filed against Savani. Later the dispute with reference to the impugned F.I.R. was settled and resolved by and between parties and FIR was quashed and set aside.

Savani belongs to Politically active Patidar community. He hails from Saurasthra originally and probably would explore his political prospects in this background.