'Sanjiv Bhatt a real hero' says Mahesh Bhatt

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, who has been supportive of IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt right from the beginning, met the incarcerated police officer's family members at their residence near Gurukul on Wednesday.

After meeting Sanjiv Bhatt's family members, the filmmaker said Sanjiv is 'A real life hero' and assured his support to the ongoing campaign for the whistleblower's release. He further said that he had come here to salute the IPS officer's fight for truth.

"This afternoon, when my wife asked me where I was going, I replied that I have seen and made many 'Reel' life heroes in my career but now I am going to meet a real life hero in Ahmedabad," said the filmmaker.

Mahesh Bahtt, who is also known for his activism and outspokenness, said: "Like me, most people of India are with Sanjiv in his fight. I was overwhelmed to meet Sanjiv's mother for she gave birth to a real hero," the filmmaker said.

Though he did not say anything directly against the state government, the filmmaker said that the light of even one candle cannot be blotted out by the darkness of the whole world. He said that such candle marches would be organized in other parts of the city as well.

"Recently, we organized a programme in Sanjiv's support in Delhi and we plan to do the same in cities like Lucknow in the coming days," he said, holding up a placard which read, 'Release Sanjiv Bhatt immediately'.

On Tuesday, renowned Supreme Court lawyer and a key member of the Anna Hazare team, Shanti Bhushan, announced in New Delhi that he would fight for Sanjiv Bhatt if he asked for his help. But the IPS officer's wife, Shweta, said that at the moment their first priority is the release of her husband. "Only after Sanjiv's release can we decide the future course of action," Shweta said.