Guj: Modi relieved, SC overrules Sanjeev Bhatt's bail

New Delhi, Nov 18: In what can be seen as a great relief for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the Supreme Court on Friday, Nov 18 overruled the bail plea of suspended IPS Officer Sanjeev Bhatt's over a case of custodial death.

The suspended Gujarat cop withdrew his petition against the Gujarat government following the court's statement that the court would not interfere in the state government's decision of not supporting Bhatt in the 21 year old custodial death case.

Citing the inaction in the decades old death case, the apex court was shocked as it said, "It is shocking that for 21 years the alleged custodial death has not been tried."

Bhatt has been accused in a case related to the torture and custodial death of a prisoner in Jamjodhpur, Jamnagar district in 1990. When the case was up for hearing before the court, government opposed the prosecution of Bhatt who was then the assistant superintendent of police (ASP) in Jamnagar. Criminal proceedings were initiated against Bhatt and six others accused in the case.

The suspended Gujarat police officer had accused Narendra Modi over Gujarat riots. Bhatt was heavily criticised and was jailed after he filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court accusing Modi of ordering cops to go slow in the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat.

OneIndia News