Chargesheet filed against Sanjiv Bhatt in false affidavit case

AHMEDABAD: A chargesheet has been filed against suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt in the case where he has been accused of threatening a police constable, confining him wrongfully, and making him sign a false affidavit.

The chargesheet against Bhatt and his lawyer, advocate V H Kanara was filed yesterday in the sessions court here by the Ghatlodia police.

Bhatt was arrested on September 30 last year following the complaint filed by constable K D Pant. Local court granted him bail on October 17.

The affidavit in question sought to establish Bhatt's presence at the February 27, 2002 meeting called by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi after the Godhra train burning incident. Bhatt had alleged that Modi, at this meeting, asked the police to give the anti-Muslim rioters a free hand.

According to Pant, Bhatt made him sign the affidavit, for submitting it to Raju Ramchandran, the Supreme Court-appointed amicus curie (friend of court) in the 2002 riot cases.

According to the chargesheet, Bhatt has been charged under IPC sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (causing wrongful confinement), 195 (giving fabricated evidence) and 189 (threatening a public servant). Kanara, who had prepared the affidavits and figures as co-accused in the case, has obtained anticipatory bail.