Clerk who hurled shoes at Gujarat minister loses job

Ahmedabad: A clerk has been dismissed for "violation" of service rules, days after he hurled shoes at the Gujarat Minister of State for Home Pradipsinh Jadeja.

Gopal Italia, posted at the office of Dhandhuka taluka Sub-Divisional Magistrate under Ahmedabad collectorate at the time of the incident, has been dismissed for violating the Service Rules, a top official of the collectorate said on Sunday.

The incident had occurred on March 2 outside a public entry gate of the Gujarat Assembly building in Gandhinagar, when Italia shouted "down with corruption" and flung the shoes at the minister who was about to address the media. However, he missed the target.

According to the official, Italia was sacked directly as he is a "fixed-pay" employee and not a regular grade staffer with the state government.

"State government has dismissed Italia for violating service rules. Since he was a fixed-pay employee working at Dhandhuka SDM office, Italia has been dismissed directly instead of being put under suspension," he said.

In January, Italia was arrested by the Ahmedabad crime branch for allegedly impersonating a police constable to call up the deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel.

He allegedly circulated audio clips of the conversation on various social media platforms.

Italia had purportedly told Patel that a recent ordinance to strengthen the liquor prohibition law in the state has failed to serve the purpose, as it has ended up in increasing the price of liquor in the dry state.