Ex IPS Secretly Transferred to Infamous Prison Housing Hardened Criminals, Deliberate Attempt to Endanger His Life, Says Wife

Ahmedabad- Shweta Bhatt, wife of former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt has written a long and emotional note on the six-year-long incarceration of her husband. Bhatt was arrested on September 5, 2018 in connection with a 1990 custodial death case.

Sanjiv Bhatt, the former IPS officer from the Gujarat cadre, is known for filing an affidavit in the Supreme Court of India against the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, regarding Modi's alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat riots.

Bhatt's wife shared a post on X, where she wrote, "Today marks 2193 days since Sanjiv Bhatt has been languishing in Jail for a crime he did not commit. September 5, 2018—a day forever seared in our memory as the day Sanjiv Bhatt was unjustly torn from us. Today marks 6 years of his wrongful incarceration by a regime so terrified of his truth that it continues to resort to extreme, oppressive measures to crush his spirit and silence him, all because he dared to stand up against this dictatorial regime."

She further wrote, " A new dangerous chapter of this injustice unfolded on Sunday when in a shocking and appalling move, Sanjiv was secretly moved to another prison, a facility infamous for housing hardened criminals and terror convicts, many of whom Sanjiv himself was instrumental in putting behind bars. This isn’t just an ordinary prison transfer; it is a deliberate and calculated attempt to put Sanjiv's life and safety in grave danger and jeopardy, a grotesque act of vengeance by a regime that fears his unwavering resolve and unbreakable spirit. Despite every brutal attempt to crush him, Sanjiv has, and continues to stand tall—his spirit unbowed, his resolve unbroken. Sanjiv's fight is not just his own .... It is ours!! "

Who is Sanjiv Bhatt?

Sanjiv Bhatt is a former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer who joined the force in 1988 and was assigned to the Gujarat cadre. He has faced multiple controversies throughout his career.

In 1990, while serving as the Additional Superintendent of Police in Jamnagar district, Bhatt detained 150 individuals to control a riot. Tragically, one of the detainees, Prabhudas Vaishnani, died of kidney failure shortly after being hospitalized. Vaishnani's brother later filed an FIR against Bhatt and six other policemen, alleging that Prabhudas had been tortured in police custody. Another individual, Vijaysinh Bhatti, also accused Bhatt of assault during the same period.

In 1996, as the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Banaskantha district, Bhatt was accused of falsely implicating a Rajasthan-based lawyer in a narcotics case. It was alleged that Bhatt deliberately filed nearly 40 petitions in the high courts of Rajasthan and Gujarat, as well as before the Supreme Court, to delay legal action against him.

Members of the Bar association further accused Bhatt of manipulating his position, noting that he had positioned himself as the Gujarat government's officer in charge of a special appeal petition pending in the Supreme Court. They claimed that Bhatt was using his official role to shield himself from legal repercussions while misusing public funds to defend against the crimes he was accused of committing.

He is best known for filing an affidavit in the Supreme Court of India against the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, regarding Modi's alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat riots. Bhatt claimed that he attended a meeting where Modi allegedly instructed top police officials to allow Hindus to vent their anger against Muslims. However, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the Supreme Court dismissed Bhatt's claims as baseless.

In 2015, Sanjiv Bhatt was removed from police service on the grounds of unauthorized absence. Subsequently, the Supreme Court dismissed his plea for the formation of an SIT to investigate the cases filed against him. The court also observed that Bhatt was in contact with political leaders and NGOs.

On June 20, 2019, he was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Jamnagar Sessions Court for a custodial death that occurred in 1990. On March 27, 2024, he was also convicted by the Palanpur Sessions Court in a drug trafficking case.

The case of Sanjiv Bhatt has not only affected his family but has also raised significant questions for society. Will those who stand up for truth and justice be treated this way? Through her note, Sanjiv Bhatt's wife has called upon society to stand against this injustice so that the truth prevails and her husband receives justice.