The Gujarat government today charge sheeted IPS officer Rahul Sharma for alleged misconduct in not submitting the original CDs containing mobile phone call records related to the 2002 communal riots.
"Rahul Sharma has been served the copy of charge sheet today," Gujarat government spokesperson Jaynarayan Vyas told mediapersons in Ahmedabad.
Sharma confirmed that he has received the copy of the charge sheet. He was charge-sheeted today after his notice period ended yesterday. Sharma was served the first notice on January 27. He was served the final notice on July 28 and was asked to file reply to the notice within 15 days.
The officer has been accused of gross misconduct under Sec 3(1) of All India Service Rules 1969.
He has been accused of not submitting the CDs containing phone call records during the riots to respective investigating officers of Naroda Gam, Naroda Patia and Gulburg Society case.
The charge sheet came a day after Home Minister P Chidambaram said the Centre is willing to intervene in the matter.
Chidambaram said there are rules which allow the Centre to intervene.
"Rules do provide for central government to take certain decisions but this depends on officer concerned. If officer concerned raises it we can," said Chidambaram.
According to the state government, Sharma's conduct had become unbecoming of an IPS officer as he did not submit the CDs to his superiors when he was transferred from the post of DCP control, Ahmedabad.
Yesterday, the high court had rejected Sharma's petition seeking details of the grounds on which he was served a show cause notice by the state government early this year over providing phone call records pertaining to 2002 riots.
