Cases against Bhatt show his criminal ways: Guj govt

The criminal cases pending against arrested IPS officer Sanjeev Bhatt show that he has a "criminal behaviour/ways", says the affidavit filed by the state government on Wednesday in the court in Ahmedabad, opposing bail to him.

The affidavit was filed by investigating officer N C Patel, in the court of Judge V K Vyas, who is hearing Bhatt's bail application. Bhatt was arrested last week in connection with the FIR filed by Police Constable K D Pant, which alleges that the IPS officer threatened him and made him sign a false affidavit with regard to the meeting called by Chief Minister Narendra Modi on February 27, 2002, hours after Godhra train carnage.

Affidavit says that there are number of criminal cases registered against Bhatt in Gujarat. It mentions the 1990 case of police atrocity against Bhatt in Jamnagar district, a case of custodial torture in 1994 at Porbander, and a 1996 case under Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act in Pali, Rajasthan.

The cases reflect his criminal "ways", so he should not be granted bail, says the affidavit, filed in Gujarati. The affidavit further says that Bhatt is an influential person and could intimidate witnesses in the case by threatening them.

The hearing on bail plea is likely to continue on October 7.