Senior IPS officer Sanjeev Bhatt on Tuesday said he would challenge his suspension by the Gujarat government, claiming that the action was prompted by his petition in the Supreme Court on the 2002 post-Godhra riots.
The Narendra Modi government, however, contested Mr. Bhatt’s claim saying it was not the case and that the suspension was prompted by his acts of indiscipline.
“This (suspension of Bhatt) was direct reaction to the petition filed by Bhatt in the Supreme Court. I believe that the actions was biased,” Mr. Bhatt’s lawyer Iqbal Sayed told media persons.
“We are weighing legal options and deciding on forums where the suspension order could be challenged,” he said.
According to Mr. Syed, they have two options — either going directly to the Supreme Court or approaching the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).
Mr. Bhatt, a 1988 batch IPS officer, who has been locked in a public confrontation with the Gujarat government over post—Godhra riots, was suspended late last night.
