In a rare and unusual development, justice RH Shukla of the Gujarat high court conducted a hearing late on Friday night and directed the Ghatlodia police not to act against advocate VH Kanara, a practicing lawyer.
Kanara had approached the high court during its non-working hour after the city police allegedly put pressure on him to give a statement against state Congress president Arjun Modhwadia.
The issue relates to a complaint filed by police constable KD Panth against suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt. Panth had lodged a complaint with the Ghatlodia police accusing Bhatt of forcing him to sign an affidavit which was to be placed before Raju Ramachandaran, amicus curiae of the Supreme Court in the Zakia Jafri case.
According to the complaint filed by Panth, the affidavit was prepared at the office of advocate Kanara in the presence of Bhatt and it was done following consultation with Congress leader Modhwadia.
Kanara, while approaching the high court, expressed fear that the police may arrest him if he did not give a statement against Modhwadia. “We took the permission of the chief justice and placed the matter before justice Shukla at his residences at 11.30 pm on Friday,” said BM Mangukia, counsel for Kanara.
Mangukia further said they were compelled to seek the high court’s protection as a police convoy frequently visited the residence of Kanara and threatened that he would be made an accused in the case if he failed to give a statement against Modhwadia.
