Gujarat cop Sanjiv Bhatt chargesheeted

Suspended Indian Police Service officer Sanjiv Bhatt, who had implicated Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the 2002 riots, was on Sunday served a chargesheet by the state home department in connection with his alleged unauthorised absence from duty for the last ten months. "This is how Modi government shows its sadbhavana," Bhatt said reacting to the development and referring to Modi's ongoing fast.

Bhatt also endorsed allegations made by danseuse/activist Mallika Sarabhai regarding her PIL on the post-Godhra riots cases. "Today I was served a chargesheet, on the charges that were stated in my suspension letter," Bhatt told PTI. Bhatt, a 1988 IPS batch officer, was suspended under the provisions of All India Services (Discipline and Appeals) Rules, 1969 after he submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court, accusing Modi of using the state machinery in the post-Godhra riots and asking police officers to look the other way to enable the majority community vent their anger against the minorities.

Reasons given for suspension were Bhatt's unauthorised absence from duty for ten months, non-appearance before a departmental panel, and misuse of official vehicle. Bhatt said, "On Friday last, I had got a communication from state home department that I have to remain present before the inquiry officer on September 19 with regard to inquiry against me. The chargesheet has been given to me without I remaining present before the officer conducting the preliminary inquiry."

"The government has completely bypassed the procedure and issued chargesheet without hearing me. This is how Modi government shows its sadbhavna. The chargesheet has been served in haste," he added. He said that this was done as details related to the PIL filed by social activist Mallika Sarabhai on the communal riots in 2002 had been made public.