Sanjiv Bhatt Former IPS Receives 20-Year Jail Term in Drug Planting Scandal

Sanjiv Bhatt in 1996, seized drugs from a hotel room in Palanpur, where the lawyer was lodging.

The Term

On March 28, a sessions court in Palanpur, Gujarat’s Banaskantha district, handed a 20-year jail term to former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt. This sentence is related to a 1996 case where drugs were planted to frame a lawyer.

Sanjiv Bhatt, currently serving time for a custodial death case, was found guilty of wrongly accusing a lawyer from Rajasthan. He alleged, back in 1996, that drugs were seized from a hotel room in Palanpur where the lawyer was residing.

Sanjiv Bhatt, who was dismissed from the force in 2015, held the role of Superintendent of Police in Banaskantha district during that period.

The judgment was delivered by Additional District and Sessions Judge J N Thakkar on Wednesday, finding Bhatt guilty under sections of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Indian Penal Code. The sentencing was disclosed on Thursday.

The Case

In Gujarat’s Banaskantha district, a special court dealing with Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) issues announced a verdict on Thursday. Sanjiv Bhatt, a former IPS officer, received a 20-year jail term in connection to a case involving suspected drug planting that dates back to 1996.

On Wednesday, the court ruled against Bhatt, finding him responsible for wrongly accusing a lawyer from Rajasthan. He had alleged that in 1996, the police found drugs in a hotel room in Palanpur where the lawyer was staying.

Sanjiv Bhatt, who is currently serving time for a custodial death case, was dismissed from the Indian Police Service in 2015. Back then, he held the role of superintendent of police in Banaskantha district.

During his tenure, the district police, under his leadership, arrested Rajasthan lawyer Sumersingh Rajpurohit in 1996 under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act). They alleged that drugs were found in a hotel room in Palanpur where Rajpurohit was staying.

The Rajasthan police later revealed that Rajpurohit was wrongly accused by the Banaskantha police. They claimed that this accusation was a tactic to pressure him into transferring a disputed property located in Pali, Rajasthan.

In 1999, former police inspector IB Vyas filed a petition with the Gujarat High Court, urging for a comprehensive investigation into the case.

Who is Sanjiv Bhatt ?

• Sanjiv Bhatt, a former IPS officer from Gujarat, gained recognition for raising concerns about the 2002 Gujarat riots in an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court. His stand against then Chief Minister Narendra Modi marked a significant moment in his career.
• However, in 2015, Bhatt faced dismissal from the police service due to unauthorized absence, creating a challenging chapter in his life.
• Despite his plea for a special investigation team (SIT) to look into cases against him, the Supreme Court denied his request in October 2015. This decision led to a trial where Bhatt was required to defend himself against charges brought by the Gujarat government.
• Bhatt’s background includes belonging to a Kashmiri Pandit family and holding a master’s degree in engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. His personal life involves marriage to Shweta Bhatt.
• During his tenure as Additional Superintendent of Police in 1990, Bhatt found himself embroiled in controversy following the detainment of 150 individuals during a riot in Jamnagar district.
• From 1999 to 2002, he served as Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence in Gandhinagar, overseeing critical security matters for the state.
• Later, in 2003, Bhatt took on the role of superintendent at Sabarmati Central Jail, where his efforts to introduce positive changes, like adding gajar ka halwa to the menu, were noted. However, his friendly approach towards prisoners led to his transfer after a short tenure.
• In November 2012, Bhatt faced serious charges, including murder, related to a custodial death case from 1990. This legal battle culminated in a life sentence for him in June 2019, marking a dramatic turn in his career and personal journey.

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Source: Google  The Hindu News 18

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