Rahul Sharma was among the officers who collected critical evidence while assisting the probe in 2002 Godhra riot cases. Rahul Sharma was among the officers who collected critical evidence while assisting the probe in 2002 Godhra riot cases.

The Gujarat government Thursday cleared the request for premature retirement by IPS officer Rahul Sharma, effective Saturday, coinciding with the 13th anniversary of the post-Godhra riots of 2002. Sharma was among the officers who took on the state government in the 2002 Godhra riot cases and collected critical evidence as an investigator in the Naroda Patiya, Naroda Gaam and Gulberg Society massacre cases while assisting the probe in 2002.

Even as he is fighting a legal battle in the Central Administrative Tribunal on three counts — negative remarks in his Annual Confidential Report , and two departmental chargesheets issued to him — he had applied for retirement three months back, picking February 28, 2015, as the D-day. The state government, however, took a call on his letter only two days before his requested date.

Additional Chief Secretary Home, G R Aloria, told The Indian Express, “We have accepted his retirement request and decided to relieve him. He will now retire from services as per his request and freed from the duties of his posting at the Armed Unit.”

Sharma said: “I had sought retirement from services for personal and professional reasons. I haven’t thought of what next, but I have a few things on mind about a future in academics and social service”.

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