AAP MLA Chaitar Vasava, wife of nine sentenced to seven years in assault, extortion case

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A sessions court on Tuesday (June 23, 2026) sentenced Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA and tribal leader Chaitar Vasava, his wife Shakuntala Vasava and seven others to seven years in jail in connection with a November 2023 case involving alleged attacks on forest officials and extortion.

Next Session Judge AV Hirpara sentenced the accused for their role in the incident that took place on the night of October 30, 2023 in Dediapada town.

Forest officials removed crops grown illegally on government land, sparking the dispute, according to the prosecution. Officials were later called to Chaitar Vasava’s residence where a heated argument took place. During the confrontation, Chaitar Vasava and the other accused allegedly threatened the officials, while Chaitar Vasava is also accused of firing in the air.

Chaitar Vasava, who represents the Dediapada (Scheduled Tribe) Assembly constituency, and the co-accused were charged in November 2023 under provisions of the Indian Penal Code relating to rioting, extortion and assault on public servants, along with relevant sections of the Arms Act.

Reacting to the verdict, AAP Gujarat president Isudan Gadhvi said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politically targeted Chaitar Vasava because of his activism on tribal issues. Mr. Gadhvi alleged that Chaitar Vasava intervened in a dispute involving forest officials and tribal farmers after crops were allegedly felled on forest land and only facilitated a settlement between the parties.

He further alleged that BJP leaders pressured the officials to file a police complaint and pursued the case to weaken the legislator politically. According to Mr. Gadhvi, Chaitar Vasava rejected inducements to join the BJP and became a prominent voice of the tribal community.

Describing the conviction as politically motivated, Mr Gadhvi said the party would challenge the verdict in a higher court and expressed confidence that Chaitar Vasava would eventually secure relief through a trial.

Published – 23 Jun 2026 15:48 IST