Bhavesh Patel (40), convicted for his role in the 2007 Ajmer Dargah blast and sentenced to life imprisonment, was granted bail last week. He was welcomed by a crowd of hundreds, including Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) as well as office bearers of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), when he returned home to Bharuch in Gujarat on Monday.
Patel, who was clad in saffron, called himself Swami Muktanand, and was greeted by the crowd at Bharuch railway station. He was carried home on people’s shoulders, showered with rose petals, while a DJ played music, reported The Indian Express.
President of the Bharuch municipality — BJP’s Surbhiben Tamakuwala, councillor Marutisinh Atodariya, Virar Desai of the VHP and RSS members — were present among the people who had gathered to welcome the convict.
When asked about her presence in the procession, Tamukawala told IE, “I received a message on a WhatsApp group and I went there. I don’t know Bhavesh Patel, and I don’t want to speak on this subject.”
Atodariya said that he knows Patel since childhood. “We came to know that Bhavesh had changed his ways and had become a Swami in jail. He was returning home, so I was present and felicitated him,” he said.
Viral Desai, a VHP spokesperson, said, “I received a call from Bhavesh’s brother Hitesh on Saturday. He said bail had been granted and that they would be reaching Bharuch on Sunday afternoon. We started preparations for a welcome ceremony. He was one of my close friends and was associated with the RSS.”
Patel, along with Devendra Gupta (42), was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by a Jaipur court in 2017. Both men are former RSS members.