Even if you happen to be a non-political person, the chances of finding a Sanjiv Bhatt (inspirational) photo in your social media feed is quite high. Sanjiv Bhatt represents the fearless cop up against corrupt politicians, just like it happens in movies. Bhatt is a post-graduate from the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai. He was among the few direct-recruit Gujaratis in the IPS.

Bhatt’s first affair with limelight was in 2003, when he included ‘gajar ka halwa’ on the prisoners’ menu. The prisoners included those booked under POTA for burning the S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express, the arson that claimed 59 lives, including kar-sevaks. Bhatt didn’t stop there. He went ahead and appointed the undertrials of the Godhra carnage case Mohammad Husain Kalota, Salim Abdul Ghaffar Shaikh and Rol Amin Hathila on a jail committee.

Bhatt became a nationwide sensation on 14 April 2011, 9 years after the 2002 Gujarat riots, when he filed an affidavit to the Supreme Court stating chief minister Narendra Modi had given instructions after the Godhra Incident to allow Hindus a freehand to vent their anger. This announcement was done in a special meeting. The affidavit was important because it was the first ever direct evidence against Narendra Modi in the 2002 Gujarat riots. His affidavit named six witnesses, one of whom filed a FIR against Bhatt, alleging that Bhatt had threatened him and forced him to sign a false affidavit. He also accused Bhatt of following the diktats of the opposition party, Indian National Congress. Sanjiv Bhatt also allegedly hacked into the e-mail of a senior law officer, who is now an Additional Solicitor General.

Sanjiv Bhatt had lodged a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a court -monitored SIT probe in relation to the two FIRs against him that is forcing his subordinate to file an affidavit in a 2002 riots case and hacking the email of the aforementioned law officer. This is what the Supreme Court mentioned:

While Sanjiv Bhatt was in connivance and constant consultation with the adversary political party (Indian National Congress) and vested interest groups, he has no explanation to keep quiet for nine years as to the meeting dated 27.2.2002.

It is further stated in the reply that the petitioner is guilty of hacking the e-mail account of the then AAG for which offence under section 66 of the IT Act has been registered. Petitioner was leaking information and interacting with media and other vested interest groups. He even attempted to use media card to influence judicial proceeding.

SIT has further submitted in the counter affidavit that the claim of Mr. Sanjiv Bhatt that he was present in meeting convened by the then Chief Minister on the night of 27.2.2002, could not be substantiated during SIT investigation.

Thus, the petitioner has made a deliberate attempt to mislead this Court and intentionally avoided furnishing of the enclosures with the e-mails.

Petitioner was in touch with an activist (Teesta Setalwad) of the NGO and was deliberating upon what was to be stated before Justice Nanavati Commission. The exchange indicates ghost questions in lead and cross were prepared and sent to the petitioner. Said activist has suggested that her lawyer should spend 2 days with the petitioner to deliberated ghost questions in lead and cross expecting the worst so that petitioner is prepared to respond.

E-mail discloses unholy nexus of the petitioner with politicians, NGOs., activists etc. It is submitted that on behalf of the rival political party, a prayer was made to call the petitioner as witness. The petitioner did not object to the cross-examination by Jan Sangharsh Manch, and to the main rival political party, in Gujarat, but objected to the cross-examination by the State of Gujarat.

Source: http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/FileServer/2015-10-13_1444718418.pdf

Supreme Courts verdict pretty much demolishes the propaganda of the Sanjiv Bhatt and it exposes how the Congress Party and NGOs with vested interests have used pawns like Sanjiv Bhatt to trap Modi. But lies need to be proven, truth is a testimonial in itself.

Cover Picture Courtesy: NDTV