“All this because he spoke against Modi”: IPS officer, Sanjiv Bhatt’s wife, Mumbai

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 08:03:40 +0000

Press Meet ‘In Solidarity with IPS Sanjiv Bhatt’ held in Mumbai

The life imprisonment of the former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt last month, in a 1990 custodial death case, has enraged several activists who stood Sanjiv Bhatt’s family member calling it an attack on the suspended IPS officer for speaking against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shweta Bhatt, wife of Sanjiv, and her son Shantanu addressed activists and media as part of their ‘Campaign for Justice’ in Mumbai on Tuesday.

The press meet ‘In Solidarity with IPS Sanjiv Bhatt’ was held at Mumbai Marathi Patkar Sangh Hall near Azad Maidan, CSMT, Mumbai. The speakers included activist Firoz Mithiborwala, Prakash Reddy (CPI), Anand Patwardhan, Indian documentary filmmaker ,Vidya Chavan of the NCP and Mihir Desai, senior advocate. The meet was presided over by Jatin Desai, himself a journalist. Shweta Bhatt gave a detailed account of the harassment of her family and the discrepancies in the court proceedings while Mihir Desai threw light on the legal aspects of the case.

Shweta Bhatt explained that, when in 1990, when 133 people were detained following a riot in Jamjodhpur town after LK Advani’s Rath Yatra, Sanjiv was far away and the area where the crime was allegedly committed did not fall under his jurisdiction. There are no police witnessses to state that Sanjiv either arrested or interrogated the 133 detained people, she said and added, “In September 2018, police came to my house and arrested my husband. He never got bail. All this, because he spoke against Modi. Our security was withdrawn. Just before the bail hearing in January, a dumper truck without a registration plate rammed into my car and dragged us until we hit a divider in a place where heavy vehicles are not permitted.”

Shweta also said that only 32 of the 300 witnesses listed by the prosecution were examined, none of them were relevant and the defence was not allowed to produce any witnesses. She further added, “I will not bear this at any cost, I will get him (Sanjiv) back.”

Senior advocate Mihir Desai also added that during the course of trial, Sanjiv submitted evidence and documents but they were not considered by the court. “This looks like a targeted attack on Sanjiv for speaking against Modi. I feel this judgment of the sessions court is erroneous in nature and I hope the High Court will turn it around,” said Desai.

Another ‘Candle light vigil and solidarity gathering’ for Sanjiv Bhatt is scheduled to be held on July 15 at his residence in Ahmedabad from 7 to 8 p.m.

The Gujarat cadre IPS officer, who criticised then chief minister Narendra Modi over his handling of the 2002 riots, was suspended in 2011 and sacked by the Ministry of Home Affairs in August 2015.

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Sanjiv Bhatt case: Wife releases statement, other documents

Fri, 21 Jun 2019 06:41:17 +0000

After former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt was sentenced to life imprisonment in a 30 year old custodial death case, his wife Shweta took to social media and released not only a press statement, but also copies of Bhatt’s submissions in court and the cause of death report for the deceased in the case.

Taking to Facebook from her husband’s account Shweta said, “The sessions court today sentenced Sanjiv to Life Imprisonment for a crime he did not commit. To all of you who have stood by Sanjiv as his pillar of support – Your words of support are comforting and encouraging, but words without action will amount to nothing. Your support will mean nothing if you let such travesty of justice happen to a man who has done nothing but serve his country and his people diligently.”

She went on to ask all Indians to join their fight for justice saying, “We as a nation are going through an extremely dark phase. We shall continue fighting till our last breath, the only thing remaining to see is whether we will be fighting a lone fight? Or will the people of this sovereign democracy fight for a man who never stopped fighting for them.”

The press release laid down a blow by blow account of the days during which the custodial death case took place, right from the riots in wake of LK Advani’s arrest during the 1990 Rath Yatra. It attempts to clarify how Bhatt had no motive, means or even opportunity to torture the deceased. The statement says, “At no point in time were any of the arrested 133 persons including the deceased and his brother were in custody of Shri Sanjiv Bhatt or any of his staff. None of the arrested 133 persons including the deceased and his brother were interrogated by Shri Sanjiv Bhatt or any of his staff.” The statement further reads, “30th October 1990, the day of the communal violence and the subsequent arrest of Prabhudas Madhavji Vaishnani, was only the 20th day of Shri Sanjiv Bhatt’s posting in Jamnagar. He did not know any of the persons arrested, let alone have a grudge against anyone.”

The statement showcases how, according to the family, it is a clear case of vendetta saying,”The complaint of custodial torture was made by Amrutlal Madjavji Vaishnani who also happens to be an active member of the VHP/BJP after the demise of the Mr. Prabhudas Madhavji Vaishnani.” It also adds, “The complaint filed against Shri Sanjiv Bhatt is a classic case of political vindictiveness, as the then Chief Minister of Gujarat Mr. Chimanbhai Patel was to face a vote of confidence in the Gujarat Assembly on 1st November 1990 and was very keen to ensure the support of Patel MLAs from the BJP as well as the INC. Shri Sanjiv Bhatt’s refusal to remove the sections of TADA from an offence where majority of the arrested persons were from the Patel community was seen as a personal affront to the then Home Minister Narhari Amin and the then Chief Minister Chimanbhai Patel, both of whom happened to belong to the Patel community.”

The statement goes on to say, “Shri Sanjiv Bhatt’s superiors in the Police Department as well as the Home department were fully aware that Shri Bhatt was being falsely victimized for having performed his duty with utmost sincerity and diligence. Hence the Home department Government of Gujarat decided to accord Shri Sanjiv Bhatt Legal Assistance vide Government of Gujarat Resolution No. MIS/1090/6152-B dated 9th January 1991. The investigation conducted by CID declared that there was no evidence found against Shri Sanjiv Bhatt, and the state government refused to give sanction to prosecute.”

The entire statement may be read here

Shweta also released a copy of Sanjiv Bhatt’s submission before the court. She also released a copy of the medical report filed after the body of the deceased was examined. This she hopes showcases further proof of how the death could not have been caused by torture at the hands of Bhatt. Both copies may be read here.

The post Sanjiv Bhatt case: Wife releases statement, other documents appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Shweta Bhatt | SabrangIndia

“All this because he spoke against Modi”: IPS officer, Sanjiv Bhatt’s wife, Mumbai

Sanjiv Bhatt case: Wife releases statement, other documents