Gujarat police deny threat to IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt's life

Gujarat police today described as "unfounded" the fear expressed by the wife of arrested IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt that there is a threat to his life.

"We do not perceive any threat to the life of Bhatt. The fear expressed by his wife is unfounded," Ahmedabad Police Commissioner Sudhir Sinha told PTI.

"The wife of Mr Bhatt had submitted a letter to the Police Control Room, saying there is a threat to his life as his custody has been handed over to Crime Branch," he said.

"Bhatt will be soon produced in the court, which will decide about further action on the complaint against him."

A day after Bhatt was arrested, his wife today said she feared for her husband's life and has written letters to the DGP and city police commissioner demanding justice.

"A case was lodged against Sanjiv in Ghatlodia Police Station and he was handed over to Crime Branch (officials), who are encounter specialists. I can't trust them at all. I fear for his life," Shweta Bhatt said.

"In wake of these circumstances, I have written letters to Director General of Police Chitranjan Singh, Ahmedabad Police Commissioner and Chief Judicial Magistrate of a local court, narrating what is happening with us and demanding justice," she said.

Meanwhile, activists Mallika Sarabhai and former Gujarat DGP RB Sreekumar went to meet Bhatt at the Crime Branch office here. However, they were not allowed to meet the IPS officer as they had not taken permission.

Bhatt was arrested yesterday in connection with an FIR filed against him by Police Constable K D Pant for allegedly threatening him and making him sign a false affidavit with regard to a meeting called by Chief Minister Narendra Modi on February 27, 2002, hours after Godhra train carnage.

Sarabhai and Sreekumar strongly condemned the arrest of Bhatt, who in an affidavit to the Supreme Court, has alleged Modi's complicity in the post-Godhra communal riots, in which over 1,000 persons were killed.

"The arrest of Bhatt is perversion of justice, subversion of justice and strong arm tactics by this government," Sarabhai said.

"All members of civil society should come together and oppose such a move," said Sarabhai, a vocal critic of Modi.

Sreekumar said, "I had received a phone call from the wife of Bhatt and she requested me to take up his case as I was his superior officer after the 2002 riots. That is the reason I have come here today."

"Almost 1,500 people died in the 2002 riots and only one Inspector has been arrested. No responsibility has been fixed on (then) DGP and the Chief Minister of the state for loss of these lives," said Sreekumar, who was Additional DGP (Intelligence) during the communal violence.

"Instead, officers like Rahul Sharma, me (Sreekumar) and Sanjiv Bhatt are being harassed by this Government for bringing out the truth," he further said.