Ahmedabad:
A court in Ahmedabad has ruled that arrested police officer Sanjiv Bhatt is entitled to apply for bail. The Gujarat Police had challenged this on the grounds that it has filed a parallel case that asks for Mr Bhatt's custody. Whether Mr Bhatt leaves jail will be decided on Friday.
He was arrested on September 30 for coercing a constable to back his testimony against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Mr Bhatt has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court, alleging Mr Modi of complicity in the riots that took place in Gujarat in 2002. As part of his affidavit, Mr Bhatt included a statement from KD Pant, a junior officer. Mr Pant's statement supported Mr Bhatt's claim that he was present at a meeting on February 27, 2002 when Mr Modi asked senior policemen to go slow on rioters. Other policemen who attended that meeting on record have said Mr Bhatt was not present. Mr Pant's statement said the opposite. Later, Mr Pant said he had been threatened by Mr Bhatt into supporting him.
A judge hearing Mr Bhatt's case for bail asked yesterday if he was willing to allow the police access to his bank lockers. The judge suggested that could help Mr Bhatt get bail. However, the police officer refused. "There can be no compromise with the Modi govt. This is a battle of principles. I am ready to remain in jail for however long it takes," he told the court.
Mr Bhatt was suspended from the police force in August for skipping work.
The Congress and activists in Gujarat accuse the Modi government of using the state machinery to persecute the police officer.