Modi is a criminal who happened to be the Chief Minister: Sanjiv Bhatt

Ahmedabad/New Delhi: In a setback for the Gujarat government, a special court granted bail to suspended police officer Sanjiv Bhatt who has accused Chief Minister Narendra Modi of complicity in the 2002 communal riots. Coming out of jail, the officer said rule of law has prevailed.

Bhatt termed Modi a "criminal" and who can get him killed.

"For me, Modi is a common criminal and who happens to be the chief minister and that doesn't make any difference. As a police officer I see him as a criminal," he told news channel Times Now.

"This government can try to eliminate me as they have done to (former minister) Haren Pandya. They can resort to anything and I am prepared for anything.

"I am a threat to Narendra Modi, his stooges and and his cohorts and they will try to neutralise the threat. If they have to eliminate me, they won't mind doing that," he said.

Earlier, Bhatt walked out of the Sabarmati jail in Ahmedabad amid showering of rose petals and cheering of supporters. He hugged his wife Shweta Bhatt, who was waiting for him outside.

"I am happy that the rule of law has prevailed and this would be a victory for hope," a composed Bhatt told reporters outside the jail.

Sessions Judge V.K. Vyas granted him bail on the condition that Bhatt would cooperate with the investigation and would be present whenever called.

The Indian Police Service (IPS) officer was arrested Sep 30 for allegedly forcing a police constable, K.D. Panth, to sign a false affidavit about his attending a meeting called by Modi soon after the Godhra train burning that sparked the riots.

In an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court in April, Bhatt alleged that after the Godhra train carnage, Modi had asked the police at a meeting to allow the majority community to vent their anger against Muslims.

Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid said the court order showed the independence of the legal system.

"No matter how much people speculate and put question marks, ultimately... we have shown our system is independent and it does not get swayed either by public opinion or by any kind of pressure," Khurshid told reporters in New Delhi.

Home | Top of the Page

Top Stories

Congress loses Hisar by election; Kuldeep Bishnoi triumphs

Kuldeep Bishnoi of the Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) was Monday elected to the Lok Sabha, winning the Hisar by-election in Haryana, officials  »

Hisar by-poll: Bishnoi in lead, Congress third

By-poll results Monday; all eyes on Hisar amid Hazare's 'maun vrat'

  Most Read

Gujarat cop Sanjiv Bhatt comes out of jail after 18 days

A court here Monday granted bail to arrested police officer Sanjiv Bhatt, who has accused Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi of complicity in the 2002 communal riots. "At 11 a.m. today   »

RTI Act will not be amended: Moily

Stating that the Right to Information (RTI) Act won't be amended, Corporate Affairs Minister M. Veerappa Moily Monday said certain "inbuilt weaknesses" in it must be addressed. At the same time, the bureaucracy should know "how to write in a file".  »

Efforts to dilute RTI must be resisted, says Aruna Roy

  News Pick

President to open Maharashtra assembly platinum jubilee

President Pratibha Patil will inaugurate the platinum jubilee (1937-2011) celebrations of the Maharashtra legislature here Tuesday, official  »

Picture of the Day

Girl students of a local school displaying the post cards posted to the AMU VC appealing him to speed up the process for the establishment of AMU centre in Malegaon

(Photo: ummid.com)