A year on, top cop Sanjiv Bhatt’s suspension revoked in one case

State's principal secretary (home) S K Nanda clarified that the revocation applied to only one case, which was about unauthorised absence from duty while Bhatt was posted as principal of SRP training school in Junagadh district

Following a recommendation from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Gujarat government on Monday revoked the suspension of IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt in one of the three cases against him.

The order signed by state government's principal secretary (home) S K Nanda, dated September 28, 2012, states that the DIG's suspension in the case has been revoked with effect from August 8, 2012.

Nanda clarified that the revocation applied to only one case, which was about unauthorised absence from duty while Bhatt was posted as principal of SRP training school in Junagadh district. He said the suspension continued in other two cases.

Bhatt was suspended on August 8, 2011, months after he filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court in April 2011 accusing Chief Minister Narendra Modi of complicity in the post-Godhra riots. The officer had claimed he had attended a meeting chaired by Modi at his residence on the night of February 27, 2002, in which the CM had asked officials "let Hindus vent their anger".

Bhatt's suspension was last reviewed on July 23, 2012, and the state had recommended to continue the suspension till August 7, 2012. This was sent to the Central Review Committee for approval.

The state government had written to the Ministry of Home Affairs on July 16, 2012, recommending further extension of Bhatt's suspension beyond the period of a year from the date he was suspended.

However, the home ministry, in a communication to the state government, wrote: "The Central Review Committee met on August 6, 2012, and reviewed the suspension of Sanjiv Bhatt and committee was of the opinion that the proposal of the state government for further extension of Bhatt's suspension beyond one year may be rejected as it is not in accordance with the All Indian Service (Discipline and Appeals) Rules."

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