Two-Year Prison Sentence for Umesh Patel in Daman Recruitment Case

Court Sentences Umesh Patel and Accomplice

In Daman, independent Lok Sabha member Umesh Patel and another individual received a two-year prison sentence on Saturday for obstructing government officials during a recruitment process in 2011. The ruling was delivered by Chief Judicial Magistrate Pranita Bharaskade-Wagh in Daman, part of the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. Both Patel and co-accused Suresh Patel, a former district panchayat member, were also fined ₹5,000 each.

However, their sentences have been suspended for one month to allow for an appeal in a higher court. They were found guilty under sections 186 (deliberately preventing a public servant from performing their duty) and 353 (using criminal force against a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The court acquitted them of charges under sections 332 (causing hurt to a police officer), 452 (trespassing), and 504 (intentional insult).

According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on March 12, 2011, when both men allegedly entered a football ground in Moti Daman, where a recruitment process for the post of excise sub-inspector was underway. The complainant, then Additional Superintendent of Police Jagmohanendra Singh, alleged that the duo pushed the on-duty police officers and forcibly entered the area where the interviews were taking place. They reportedly misbehaved with the officers and hindered government employees from carrying out their official duties.

After the trial concluded, the court found both men guilty and imposed a two-year simple imprisonment sentence. Umesh Patel had previously defeated three-time BJP MP Lalu Patel for the Daman and Diu seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.