The Supreme Court stayed the trial of Gujarat police officer Sanjiv Bhatt, facing charges of forcing his official driver to make a false statement in connection with the alleged inaction of the Narendra Modi government during the 2002 riots in the state.
The Bench of Justices Aftab Alam and Ranjana Desai today stayed the proceedings against Bhatt after he pleaded in front of the court that the case against him was fabricated and was only a result of political vendetta.
Sanjiv Bhatt has sought investigation into the allegations by an independent agency.
The case that was built was that that Mr. Bhatt had allegedly pressured his driver K.D. Pant to tell a court that he drove the Gujarat cadre Indian Police Service officer to the Chief Minister’s residence on Feb 27, 2002.
Mr. Bhatt had claimed that in the meeting at the Chief Minister’s residence on Feb 27, 2002 , he told senior administration officials not to act against rioters.
The driver , Pant, subsequently rejected the statement that he drove Mr. Bhatt to the Chief Minister’s residence and added that he had made his earlier statement under pressure from the IPS officer.
At present Sanjiv Bhatt is under suspension and lives in Gandhinagar in Gujarat.
Emerging story. Watch this space for updates as more details come in