The personal assistant (PA) to the Gujarat Spokesperson and Health Minister Rushikesh Patel is accused of extorting money from candidates aspiring to join the Gujarat Subordinate Services Selection Board (GSSSB). 

The Thakor and Koli Ekta Mission leaders wrote a letter to Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel in this regard. Rajkot’s Jasdan-based Koli leader Mukesh Rajpara said that around 230 students came to him and presented evidence.

He stated that Jagdish Panchal, Minister Patel’s PA allegedly demanded lakhs of funds from the students.

An alleged meeting took place in a hospital near Sarangpur where candidates were assured of their names in the merit list in exchange for money, by a woman who claimed to be in close relations with the health minister and his PA.

Jagdish Panchal, a woman named Shilpa from Limbdi, and another accused Bharat Solanki from Botad were allegedly involved in the scam and took lakhs of funds from students of Rajkot, Botad, and Surendrangar.

The letter demanded returns of payments from the accused. It also mentioned that if they don’t get justice, the Koli-Thakor community will storm the Gandhinagar Secretariat and hold a dharna (protests).

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