Suspended Gujarat cadre IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt on Monday walked out of the Sabarmati central jail to an enthusiastic welcome after being granted bail by the Ahmedabad sessions court.
Judge V.K. Vyas granted the bail on condition that Mr. Bhatt would co-operate with the investigating agencies and make himself available whenever called by the police.
Mr. Bhatt was arrested on September 30 on a complaint filed in June at the Ghatlodiya Police Station here by K.D. Panth, a constable attached to the Meghaninagar Police Station.
The complainant alleged that Mr. Bhatt “threatened and forced” him to sign a false affidavit before the Supreme Court-appointed amicus curiae in support of the IPS officer's claim that he was present at a meeting of the Chief Minister Narendra Modi on February 27, 2002, in which Mr. Modi reportedly “directed” the police to “allow Hindus to vent their anger on Muslims” in the wake of the Godhra train carnage.
The State government opposed Mr. Bhatt's bail plea and even appointed senior advocate S.V. Raju as Special Public Prosecutor to fight the case.
Mr. Bhatt's release was hailed by human rights activists, social organisations and a number of voluntary organisations. They have been holding rallies and staging demonstrations in front of his residence and other parts of the city and the State ever since his arrest to express their solidarity with his wife Shweta Bhatt, two children and other family members.
Walking out of the jail, Mr. Bhatt told journalists that it was only the “beginning” of a big fight ahead. He was glad that the “rule of law” had prevailed in the State. He described his release on bail as a victory of the victims of the 2002 communal riots.
Mr. Bhatt described his stay in the jail as “sabbatical.” He would continue to fight for the “cause which is bigger than me.” He declined to comment on alleged police misbehaviour with him when he was kept in the Crime Branch police lock-up before the court sent him to jail, on which his wife had dashed out a letter to Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram. “I will speak about it only at an appropriate time and on appropriate forum,” he said.
Mr. Bhatt said he was aware that the Modi government would not allow him to live freely. “Let them do their job and let me do mine. I am not really bothered about what the government will do next. I do not fear them or have any apprehension. I will do my work and they will do theirs. I am not going to leave them and they would also not leave me.”
Expresses gratitude
He was thankful to all those who stood by him and his family during the difficult days, and particularly his IPS colleagues and the IPS officers' Association members who visited his house to express their solidarity with his wife when he was in jail. “I have come out stronger and am ready to continue my fight.”
Mr Bhatt said he would like an agency outside Gujarat to investigate Mr. Panth's complaint against him. “If the case of Mr. Panth is investigated properly, the truth about how the State was subverting the entire machinery to try [to] coerce witnesses will come out.”
He alleged that the search in his house was aimed at destroying important evidence against Mr. Modi and the State government. He also alleged that a theft in his mother's house last year was also “organised” for the same purpose.
After giving Mr. Bhatt a rousing reception, his wife said she felt a “relieved and happy person.” Her faith in the judicial system was further strengthened after the court order, she noted, adding that she always had the confidence that ultimately the “truth will prevail.”
“Private complaint”
While Pradesh Congress Committee president Arjun Modhvadia also said “truth has ultimately prevailed,” official spokesman of the government and Health Minister Jaynarayan Vyas claimed that the Modi government had “nothing to do” with Mr. Bhatt's case, which started from a “private complaint of an individual.”
He said the government did only what the prosecution was required to do and acceptance of his bail application should not be viewed as the government's defeat.
It is evident from the deeds of Mr.Sanjeev Bhatt that he is a courageous
and upright officer. It is difficult to see such officers in indian
police.Sacrificing even the life that gentleman is fighting for truth.
Such persons must be backed in all means.I am in full solidarity with
him.
It is sickening to read the off-the-wall remarks of Rishabh who seems to think that just because he thinks NM was guilty of 2002 riots it must be the general opinion about him. People in Gujarat have proved time and again that they have trust in NM and his character. This lackey of money bags-Bhatt- who is after all a babu should not be allowed to attack a respectable and successful CM of eminence and wide popular support and to get away with it.
Request Mr. Bhatt to utilise the TV and print media effectively and exclusively to highlights his views and misdeeds by Modi Govt. for last so many years. Modi Govt was using for so many years these medias to cover-up their activities with a hype of Guj. progess. It seems the economical progress can nutralise the criminal activites practised by Modi & his Govt. Appeal to Mr. Bhatt utilise all the reliable and effective tools to bring the truth of all the criminal activities done by Modi & his Govt for so many years. He is the correct guy who knows so many facts of Modi Govt and in the last night Times News Hour debate - it was clear that Byas was very nervous on the behalf of Modi & his Govt.We all right thinking citizen are with you and will supports of your all the lawful and moral movements which will bring the truth of Modi & his real face in front of the Nation.
Bhatt is innocent & the truth will come one day i really appreciate Sanjiv Bhatt. We all with you Mr.Sanjiv Bhatt you will win one day inshallah God Bless you.
@Narayanan Krishnan: What do you mean by 'if n.m. has done wrong' ? Everybody knows what he did in 2002.
Mr Cho Ramaswamy in his Tuqlaq said recently this: "Just becasue a person is taking an Anti Modi Stand,he/she can commit any crime and getaway with that and no investigation shall be initiated."In this case a complaint is made by Bhat's driver(a police officer)and let that be investigated properly.Indian Law states that unless a person is proved guilty by the state he is innocent.This is applicable to Mr.Modi as well as Mr Bhat.
Why would a serving IPS officer tell a lie against his Chief Minister just to make money bags. Giving a political hue to this case is exactly what all the politicians want. This is a sure getaway for them. If an IPS officer wants to make money illegaly he does not need to go against his CM. He has umpteen number of opportunities to make big bucks, he does not have to unruffle the administration. As for elected CMs are concerned, the less said the better. One can keep counting and find many past and present "elected representatives" who are CMs and have various cases against them. Being elected does not mean that they are unanswerable for their misdeeds and can do no wrong. Does being elected reprensentative make them above law. Congress party will do well by not fishing in troubled waters as said by SVV. This is a serious matter and must not be deafened by the political din. May the truth prevail.
Truth and justice has prevailed. The more Mr Modi tries to subvert the truth the more difficult it will become for him.If Mr Modi has nothing to hide, Mr Modi should stop using the state machinery to intimidate others and allow justice to proceed unhindered.
Gujarat government was hasty, if not vindictive in arresting such a senior I P S officer like Bhatt on the basis of complaint of a very junior functionary who was a prevaricator. The best the Govt can do to retrieve its credentials,is to order for an enquiry by a sitting judge of the High Court.Demand for a C B I enquiry also is fraught with political overtones. However it is to be stated that the Congress is fishing in troubled waters and the officer seems to being used as a pawn, as seen from his utterances.
We the general public will never know the real truth in this episode. Sanjiv Bhatt was interviewed yesterday by TV media.His response to the various questions gives me an expression that he is being used by some powerful powerful parties and money bags from Gujarat.He has the tacit support from Congress leadership from the central government. Otherwise why should the Law Minister applaud the verdict of the court?Even if Narendra Mody has done something wrong this is not the way of investigation.He is an elected CM and a constitutionl responsible person.Bhatt is only a tool in the hands of a Big force and that makes him to make some wild allegations against CM and Administration.It is one of the worst cases in the history of India.
Unfortunate that Court has granted bail to Mr Bhatt, whose charges against Modi Govt seem to have been built due to his personal grievances. Why an officer that too from the police service must keep quiet & come out in the open after such long period? He has done so obviously with an ulterior motive, gauging the prevailing political atmosphere, to settle personal scores. I am equally shocked at the utterances of some other ex police officials! If the Gujarat Govt had to take drastic steps to protect its citizens & property from fundamental elements who went on a rampage, how can it be termed as criminal & against a particular minority community? When enforcing law & order, is it wrong to control the erring elements irrespective of caste, creed or religion? That's what State police did then. Other communities have also suffered loss in the riots. It is sad that Mr Bhatt & his supporters are indulging in dirty politics encouraged by congressmen who are hell bent to capture power.
It is only right that "bail is the rule and jail the exception".
There should be a thorough investigation into the the constable's private complaint against Mr Bhatt who was allegedly a superior officer. Did Mr Bhatt ask him to provide false witness as alleged ? Did Mr Bhatt have a history of dressing up cases with tutored witnesses ? These practices are so ingrained in our Police system that we are no longer shocked by such disclosures. However, the public wants to know the facts of this well publicised case. Apart from that, Police reform (apparently in cold storage!) is needed to restore confidence in Police forces from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
Is it right for a government official, a senior one at that, to publically criticise a Chief Minister? One doesn't have to be a Modi supporter to say that it is not right. What Sanjiv Bhatt is saying may be right;but he should resign from government service before he says that. Discipline, one thought,is the most important asset of a police officer. If Mr.Bhatt's recent arrest was illegal, he should fight it in a court room and not in a TV studio.
Media trial is not needed. Judiciary did his own duty judiciously. I shall suggest Mr. Bhatt to fight next election against Mr. Modi.
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