Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, who claimed to have never appeared before a court, on Thursday deposed before the Gujarat High Court in connection with an election petition filed by BJP's Balvantsinh Rajput against his Rajya Sabha poll victory. Patel was cross-examined in the case for nearly two-hours by additional solicitor general Satya Pal Jain, who appeared as an advocate of Rajput, and left the Congress veteran stunned with his questions, as well as with his sense of humour.
Jain initially questioned about the various positions held by the Congress leader in the party and his roles and responsibilities as a treasurer of Congress. Several of Jain's questions also irritated Patel. For example, when Jain asked about whether he is close to the present and former Congress president, Patel rebutted saying, "What do you mean by close?" At this point, the judge had to instruct Patel not to counter question.
Patel also replied with a "may, or may not" when he was asked if all the Congress MLA's who proposed his name for the Rajya Sabha poll stood by him till the elections were held on August 8. The judge, thereafter, remarked that since Patel is a seasoned politician, so such answers were expected. The court also had to warn Patel when he was stuck at "I don't remember" as an answer for too many questions asked by Jain. The court told Patel that he should remember certain things as he is deposing before the court and "inferences" will be drawn if he continued to answer like that.
Interestingly, Patel initially maintained that he does not remember anything from the July 25, 2017, meeting of Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, but later said he was told by Congress leader Mohansinh Rathwa that the party has issued a "whip". He said he told Rathwa that it was the party's lookout. Jain, thereafter, questioned Patel whether he lied initially or is lying now.
Interestingly, senior advocate P Chidambaram appeared for Patel along with advocate PS Champaneri. While the hearing in the case was in full swing, Chidambaram's phone started ringing and the senior advocate was unable to switch it off and eventually a court staff had to help him out. Justice Bela Trivedi let him off with a warning clarifying that in usual circumstances, the phone would have been confiscated, but since it was his first time, he was being forgiven. Jain, expressing his great sense of humour said: "There are too many secrets in his phone and his bosses might also call him. I hope you don't blame my party for this".
Patel's cross-questioning will continue on Friday.