Notice to Suspended Officer Sanjeev Bhat After Controversial Video

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat government has sent a notice to suspended police officer Sanjeev Bhatt on basis of a controversial video. In an 11-minute video clip, a person purported to be Mr Bhatt is seen with an unknown woman.

In its notice, the government sought an explanation from him about his "illicit relationship". The notice also said such conduct was unbecoming of an Indian Police Service officer and was in breach of service rules.  

"The forensic results support the complaint that Bhatt has a relationship with woman, other than his wife," the notice read.

Forensic reports claim that the 11-minute film had not been tampered with, the notice also said.

Mr Bhatt, who is married to Shweta Bhatt -- who had unsuccessfully contested against then Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the 2012 asembly elections -- has denied the charge.

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He has said he is not the man seen in the video clip and a "closer examination of the clip reveals striking differences in facial features, including shape and size of the nose, the shape and size of the forehead, as well as shape and size of the ears".

Mr Bhatt said he was ready to undergo a "detailed biometric examination" to prove it.

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Mr Bhatt has been under suspension since 2011 after he took on the state government and then Chief Minister Narendra Modi over the 2002 riots in the state.

But his claims were rejected by the Special Investigation Team appointed by the Supreme Court to probe nine riots related cases.