Akola: A Maharashtra court has granted anticipatory bail to Congress leader Hidayat Patel in connection with the killing of a BJP worker in Akola district last month. Akot sessions court judge Manish Ganorkar on Wednesday granted protection from arrest to Patel, who was absconding since the incident took place on May 24.

The Congress leader contested the Lok Sabha polls held this year from Akola seat but lost to BJP's Sanjay Dhotre. Mateen Patel (48), a BJP minority cell worker, was killed and his brother injured at Mohalla village in Akola on May 24 after allegedly being beaten up by a group of persons following an argument over the Lok Sabha polls.