Ahmedabad: Sanjiv Bhatt, known as the policeman who has become famous for taking on Narendra Modi, has been granted bail by a court in Gujarat.
"Glad that rule of law has prevailed," said a smiling Sanjiv Bhatt as he walked out of jail a little before 2 pm.
Mr Bhatt has accused the Chief Minister of complicity in the Gujarat riots of 2002. He was arrested on September 30 after a police constable KD Pant said he had been forced by Mr Bhatt to file an affidavit backing Mr Bhatt's complaints against Mr Modi.
Mr Bhatt claims that on February 27, 2002, he attended a meeting of policemen called by Mr Modi, who allegedly said that rioters should not be reined in. Mr Bhatt recalls Mr Modi as saying that it was imperative for Hindus to be allowed to "vent out their anger." Mr Bhatt filed an affidavit stating his version of events in the Supreme Court in April this year. Other policemen who were at the meeting say Mr Bhatt was not present. Mr Pant's affidavit declared the opposite.
Mr Bhatt was suspended by the Gujarat Police in August for skipping work and using an official car when he was not on duty. Mr Bhatt, the opposition Congress, and activists accuse Mr Modi of trying to persecute Mr Bhatt as payback for his allegations.
During the week-long hearing on Bhatt's bail plea, his advocate I H Syed had contended that his client's arrest was politically motivated and was aimed at getting hold of and destroying the alleged evidence that he had against Modi with regard to the 2002 communal riots.
While Mr Bhatt was in jail, his wife Shweta repeatedly urged Home Minister P Chidambaram to ensure he was given adequate security. She said her husband was being treated like a terrorist, and that there was legitimate reason to believe he would be killed while in jail.
Today, a relieved Shweta said "I had great faith in the judiciary. My heartfelt thanks to all the people who supported and stood by me.:
"Glad that rule of law has prevailed," said a smiling Sanjiv Bhatt as he walked out of jail a little before 2 pm.
Mr Bhatt has accused the Chief Minister of complicity in the Gujarat riots of 2002. He was arrested on September 30 after a police constable KD Pant said he had been forced by Mr Bhatt to file an affidavit backing Mr Bhatt's complaints against Mr Modi.
Mr Bhatt claims that on February 27, 2002, he attended a meeting of policemen called by Mr Modi, who allegedly said that rioters should not be reined in. Mr Bhatt recalls Mr Modi as saying that it was imperative for Hindus to be allowed to "vent out their anger." Mr Bhatt filed an affidavit stating his version of events in the Supreme Court in April this year. Other policemen who were at the meeting say Mr Bhatt was not present. Mr Pant's affidavit declared the opposite.
Mr Bhatt was suspended by the Gujarat Police in August for skipping work and using an official car when he was not on duty. Mr Bhatt, the opposition Congress, and activists accuse Mr Modi of trying to persecute Mr Bhatt as payback for his allegations.
During the week-long hearing on Bhatt's bail plea, his advocate I H Syed had contended that his client's arrest was politically motivated and was aimed at getting hold of and destroying the alleged evidence that he had against Modi with regard to the 2002 communal riots.
While Mr Bhatt was in jail, his wife Shweta repeatedly urged Home Minister P Chidambaram to ensure he was given adequate security. She said her husband was being treated like a terrorist, and that there was legitimate reason to believe he would be killed while in jail.
Today, a relieved Shweta said "I had great faith in the judiciary. My heartfelt thanks to all the people who supported and stood by me.:
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