Former BJP General Secretary Shailesh Patel Sentenced to One Year in Jail

March 12, 2025

Shailesh Patel, the former Sarpanch of Pamon in Borsad, has been sentenced to one year in prison by the Borsad court for not returning the ₹8 lakh borrowed from a friend for a tobacco business. The court also ordered Patel to return ₹16 lakh within 60 days. If the accused fails to repay the amount, he will face an additional two months of imprisonment.

Manharsinh Jaswantsinh Jhala, who resides near the Vrundavan Nagar water tank in Borsad and owns Khodal Auto, is a friend of Shailesh Patel and is involved in vehicle trading and farming. Shailesh Patel, the former General Secretary of Borsad Taluka BJP and former Sarpanch of Pamon, frequently borrowed money from Manharsinh Jhala. Between October 2021 and March 2023, Patel borrowed ₹8 lakh in four installments for his tobacco business.

Later, Manharsinh Jhala demanded the repayment of the money, and Shailesh Patel issued a cheque for ₹8 lakh from the Bank of Baroda, Borsad branch, on October 13, 2023. However, the cheque was returned on October 16, 2023, due to “insufficient funds.” The cheque was returned again on November 24, 2023. When Patel was verbally informed of this, he behaved arrogantly and failed to return the ₹8 lakh. Consequently, Manharsinh Jhala filed a case against Patel under the Negotiable Instruments Act.

In the Borsad court, while the cheque return case was being heard, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Manishbhai Nandani sentenced Shailesh Patel to one year in prison. Patel was also ordered to return ₹16 lakh to Manharsinh Jhala within 60 days. If Patel fails to repay the amount, he will face an additional two months of imprisonment.