Ahmedabad:
In a significant show of solidarity, the Gujarat Indian Police Service (IPS) Association today passed a resolution backing their jailed colleague Sanjiv Bhatt. The top cop was arrested and sent to jail on allegations of coercing a constable into signing an affidavit that accused Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi of complicity in the 2002 riots that ravaged the state.
Three IPS officers, including Atul Karwal and V M Parghi, later went to Mr Bhatt's residence to convey the resolution passed by the association to his family members, members present in the meeting said.
"It was very nice, Felt good. Nice that officers are coming together. It's a very nice gesture", Mr Bhatt's wife Shweta told reporters.
Civil rights activist Shabnam Hashmi was also present at Mr Bhatt's house when the IPS officers came calling,
Sanjiv Bhatt, viewed by many as a whistleblower, has accused Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi of complicity in the riots that ravaged the state in 2002. He was arrested on September 30 in Gandhinagar following a complaint of abducting and forcefully recording the statement of a constable. The statement, in question, reportedly backs Mr Bhatt's allegations against the Chief Minister.
Mr Bhatt had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court this year alleging that Mr Modi had, in a meeting on February 27, 2002, asked officials not to act against rioters during the riots that year. He had added that his allegations could be backed up by head constable KD Pant who was also part of those meetings. But Mr Pant has alleged that Mr Bhatt forced him to back his allegations on record against Narendra Modi. He further alleged that Mr Bhatt had threatened him and made him sign a false affidavit with regard to the meeting. In fact, it is on Mr Pant's complaint that the IPS officer was arrested.
Mr Bhatt's bail plea will now come up for hearing on a local court in Ahmedabad on Monday.