Dixit Patel had big political ambitions, flaunted his links

Vadodara: The biggest fish caught so far in connection with the Godhra NEET malpractice case — Dixit Patel — had big political ambitions and did not shy away from flaunting it on social media.
Patel, chairman of Jay Jalaram School, was arrested by the CBI on Sunday and taken to Ahmedabad for remand. He was a former deputy sarpanch keen on contesting assembly polls.
Patel had been questioned repeatedly by the CBI before being arrested.He had been interacting with the media about the case even as CBI searched his schools in connection with the case last week. It seemed as if the malpractice was handiwork of some staffers till Patel himself was arrested.
Patel belongs to the Ratanpur (Kantadi) village of Godhra taluka. His father was also active in politics in the village and Patel toed his line. Sources said that a look on the social media accounts of Patel would reveal how he flaunted his rendezvous with politicians. Sources said that this was largely due to his status as an educationist in the region.
Sources said that Patel was even eyeing a ticket for the assembly polls in 2022. They added that while his village is in the Godhra taluka, it falls under the Shehra assembly seat. But his chances of getting a ticket were grim as strongman Jetha Ahir better known as Jetha Bharwad was an MLA from the seat. Ahir has not only strengthened his hold in the constituency but the entire district and the cooperative sector too.
Patel had started the first Jay Jalaram School in Veganpur in Panchmahal district. He then started the school’s unit in Thermal near Wanakbori in Kheda district. The Godhra unit of the school was started over a decade ago.
The Veganpur school was closed by Patel before he started the school in Godhra. He later tried to develop the school as a Gyanshakti Residential School, but the project never took off. He started a school in Bakrol in Anand district, but gave it to someone else later. The school has its presence now in Thermal and Godhra.
Sources said that Patel also dabbled with real estate and had developed a site in Thermal too.
He was brought to Godhra on Monday morning for questioning.