Former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt's security withdrawn

The Gujarat government on Wednesday withdrew security of former controversial IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt.

Bhatt, who lives in Ahmedabad, was sacked in August 2015 on the grounds of “unauthorised absence” from service. He had then said that he was sacked on the basis of a “sham inquiry”. 

The IG rank officer had shot into limelight after he took on the Gujarat government over 2002 post-Godhra riots. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief minister of the state when the riots took place.

Bhatt told THE WEEK that the guard posted at his home was informed over phone about the withdrawal of security. He said that security was provided not on the basis of entitlement but on the basis of threat perception. The security cover was scaled down to one person over a period, he added. 

Sources said that the security given to various persons is reviewed every six months and decisions are taken based on that. 

Miffed over the move, Bhatt shot off a three-page letter to Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani requesting to the agencies concerned to refrain from taking steps or measures that would directly or indirectly jeopardize the security and safety of him and his immediate family members. 

Bhatt maintained in the letter that despite threat assessment reports, he was provided with only one PSO in a 24-hour shift.

The former police officer is a witness in several ongoing riot cases. 

Bhatt sought to remind the state government that it had given an assurance in the Supreme Court of providing security to him.

Earlier in the day, the former IPS officer took to social media and said, “Let me assure all concerned that such intimidatory tactics will not deter me from fighting against the evil forces of hatred.”

In 2012, Shweta, Bhatt's wife, had unsuccessfully contested on a Congress ticket against Modi in the assembly elections from Maninagar constituency.

In the past, a police complaint was lodged against the 1988 batch IPS officer for allegedly slapping a narcotics case on one person. He is also accused of having given “certain facilities” to prisoners during his tenure as Superintendent of Central Jail, Ahmedabad.