Gujarat Court sentences ex IPS Sanjiv Bhatt to life imprisonment in 1990 custodial death case
A Jamnagar Sessions Court in Gujarat has convicted ex-IPS Officer Sanjiv Bhatt in connection with a 1990 custodial death case. As per reports, Bhatt has been sentenced to life imprisonment.
As per reports, another accused policemen Pravinsinh Jhala has also been awarded life imprisonment in the case, while the judgment on four others is still awaited.
Judge DM Vyas pronounced the judgment. A total of seven police officers were accused in the case including 2 Sub Inspectors and 3 Police Constables. Sanjivkumar Bhatt IPS, Dipakkumar Bhagwandas Shah PSI, Shaileshkumar Labhshankar Pandya PSI, Pravinsinh Bavubha Zala PC, Pravinsinh Jorubha Jadeja PC, Anopsinh Mohbbatsinh Jethva PC and Kesubha Dolubha Jadeja PC are the accused in this case.
The incident pertained to the time when Sanjiv Bhatt was the Assistant Superintendent of Police, Jamnagar. Bhatt had taken over 100 persons into his custody for an incident of rioting in the area. One of these persons included one Prabhudas Madhavji Vaishnani. Vaishnani was in police custody for nine days. After being released on bail, Vaishnani died of renal failure. Subsequently, an FIR was registered against Sanjiv Bhatt and other officers for custodial death and cognizance was taken by a Magistrate in 1995.
Former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt sentenced to life by a Jamnagar Court. @sanjivbhatt #SanjivBhatt #Jamnagar pic.twitter.com/qxkinRHSdh
— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) June 20, 2019
This order relates to a FIR registered in 1990 Jamjodhpur Police Station, Jamnagar. Sanjiv Bhatt and others were slapped with Sections 302 (Murder), 323 (Hurt), 506 (Criminal Intimidation), 114 (Abetment) of the Indian Penal Code.
Bhatt is known for being a vocal critic of the Narendra Modi-led government. Prior to his dismissal from service, the former IPS officer had also filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court alleging that the Modi-led Gujarat government had a complicit role in the 2002 Gujarat riots. He was dismissed from service by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2015 on grounds of unauthorised absence from service.
Bhatt is currently in detention in relation to a 22-year-old drug planting case.
State was represented by Advocates MA Mehta and TM Gokani.
Bhatt was represented by Advocate PM Buch.