Sanjiv Bhatt

Sanjiv Bhatt
Born (1963-12-21) 21 December 1963 (age 60)
Bombay, India
Alma materIIT Bombay
SpouseShweta Bhatt
Police career
CountryIndia
AllegianceIndian Police Service
Statusresigned

Sanjiv Bhatt is a former Indian Police Service officer of the Gujarat-cadre.[1] He is known for his role in filing an affidavit in the Supreme Court of India against the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, concerning Modi's alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat riots. He claimed to have attended a meeting, during which Modi allegedly asked top police officials to let Hindus vent their anger against the Muslims. However, the Special Investigation Team appointed by the Supreme Court of India concluded that Bhatt did not attend any such meeting, and dismissed his allegations.[2]

In 2015, Bhatt was removed from the police service, on the grounds of "unauthorised absence". In October 2015, the Supreme Court quashed Bhatt's plea for constituting a special investigation team (SIT) for cases filed against him by Gujarat Government. The court lifted a stay on his trial in these cases and asked him to face prosecution. The court observed that, "Bhatt was in active touch with leaders of rival political parties, was being tutored by NGOs, was involved in politics and activism of creating pressure, even upon 3-judge bench of this court, amicus and many others".[3] On 20 June 2019, he was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Sessions Court of Jamnagar District in the state of Gujarat in a 1990 custodial death case.[4] On 27 March 2024, Bhatt was convicted by Palanpur Sessions Court in a drug peddling case.[5][6]

  1. ^ "Former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt sentenced to life in 30-year-old custodial death case". The Economic Times. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Sanjiv Bhatt did not attend Narendra Modi's Feb 2002 meeting, says SIT". Economic Times. PTI. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  3. ^ "Supreme Court quashes Sanjiv Bhatt's plea, says attempt to influence court through politics and activism". Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Life_term was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "After 28 Years Former IPS Officer Sanjiv Bhatt Convicted in Drug Peddling Case". Lokmat Times. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  6. ^ "गुजरात: ड्रग केस में पूर्व IPS संजीव भट्ट दोषी करार, 28 साल पुराना है मामला". TV9 Bharatvarsh (in Hindi). 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.