Surat: The city police arrested former Gujarat state president of Aam Admi Party (AAP) Gopal Italia here and took him to the Crime Branch office. Italia was held in connection with the case filed against him over his remarks made during last year. He was released on bail by Police.

In September last year, Italia was booked in Umra police station of the city for alleged defamatory comments about minister of state for home Harsh Sanghavi and Gujarat BJP president C R Paatil. Italia had allegedly addressed Sanghavi as Drugs Sanghvi and Paatil as ex-bootlegger in a viral video. A complaint was filed by BJP worker Pratap Chodwadia. Italia is also accused of hurting the reputation of the BJP by saying that its “goons” were behind the attack on AAP leader Manoj Sorathiya in Surat city. In the video message, Italia said 100 “goons of BJP” had attacked Sorathiya.

The investigation of this case was later handed over to the city crime branch. DeshGujarat