Gujarat Police Officer, who took on Modi over 2002 riots, sacked

India’s government has fired Sanjiv Bhatt, a senior police officer who accused Narendra Modi of being complicit in deadly anti-Muslim riots in the prime minister’s home state of Gujarat in 2002.

‘ tweeted suspended Gujarat Police officer Sanjiv Bhatt after hearing the news about his being sacked by Gujarat government.

Mr. Bhatt stated that the inquiry was done in haste and in ex-parte manner without giving him reasonable opportunity to fairly defend himself “against the machinations the highly vindictive apparatus that worked at the behest and instance of the Government of Gujarat”.

Bhatt’s claim was rejected by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the court to probe the riots, and he was subsequently arrested briefly after accusations that he forced a junior officer to file a false affidavit in another riot-related case.

The development was also confirmed by Gujarat chief secretary GR Aloria when he said that “services of Sanjiv Bhatt have been terminated”. Earlier he was suspended from service as on 2011 for misusing official vehicle without permission. In fact, I have enjoyed every moment of the last 27 years in the IPS.

Mr Bhatt has denied that he was in the video clip; he said he was ready for a “detailed biometric examination” to prove it.

“I sent my reply to the Home Department on August 15”.

“The government of the day has decided to remove me from service after conducting a sham, ex parte inquiry on completely fabricated charges of ‘unauthorised absence from duty, ‘” he said in a Facebook post late Wednesday night, adding that the absences referred to the period when he was deposing before the SIT and another commission instituted to investigate the riots.

Asked if he would challenge his sacking, Bhatt said: “A lot can be done (against the move) but whether it is worth challenging…the government does not want me, why I should be so keen that I want to remain in this”. So whatever has happened is good.

Bhatt’s wife Shweta Bhatt had unsuccessfully contested against Modi when he was the Chief Minister in the 2012 assembly elections. “I cannot impose myself on the government”.