Porbandar: In a significant development, a Porbandar court has acquitted former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Sanjiv Bhatt in a decades-old custodial torture case. The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Mukesh Pandya ruled on Saturday that the prosecution had failed to substantiate the allegations against Bhatt, citing lack of evidence and procedural lapses.
Background of the Case
The case against Bhatt, who was serving as the Superintendent of Police in Porbandar at the time, revolved around allegations made by complainant Naran Jadav. Jadav claimed he was subjected to physical and mental torture, including electric shocks, to coerce a confession under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and Arms Act in 1994. He further alleged that his son was also tortured during the ordeal.
The FIR against Bhatt and constable Vajubhai Chau was registered on April 15, 2013, following a 1997 complaint by Jadav to a judicial magistrate. Charges under sections 330 (causing hurt to extract confession) and 324 (causing hurt by dangerous weapons) of the Indian Penal Code were filed. The case against Vajubhai was dropped following his death.
Key Observations by the Court
The court highlighted that:
- The prosecution could not prove the charges that Bhatt forced Jadav to confess or used threats involving dangerous weapons.
- Required sanction to prosecute Bhatt, who was a serving public official at the time, was not obtained.
These lapses led to Bhatt’s acquittal in the case.
Bhatt’s Troubled Past and Legal Battles
Sanjiv Bhatt’s legal troubles extend beyond the Porbandar case:
- 1990 Jamnagar Custodial Death Case
Bhatt is currently serving life imprisonment for the custodial death of Prabhudas Vaishnani, a detainee arrested during communal riots in Jamjodhpur. The riots followed a bandh protesting the halting of BJP leader LK Advani’s Rath Yatra for the Ram Mandir movement. Bhatt, then Additional Superintendent of Police, detained 150 individuals, one of whom died after being released. - 1996 Drug Possession Case
Earlier this year, Bhatt was sentenced to 20 years in prison for fabricating evidence in a drug possession case to implicate a Rajasthan lawyer. - 2002 Gujarat Riots Allegations
Bhatt made headlines in 2011 after filing an affidavit in the Supreme Court, accusing then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi of complicity in the 2002 Gujarat riots. A Special Investigation Team later dismissed his allegations. - Dismissal from Service
Bhatt was dismissed from the IPS in 2015 for unauthorized absence, a decision upheld by courts.
Activists and Controversy
Bhatt’s case has drawn attention due to its political undertones and involvement of high-profile individuals. Activist Teesta Setalvad and former Gujarat Director General of Police RB Sreekumar are co-accused in related cases, including allegations of fabricating evidence in the Gujarat riots.
Legal Journey Continues
Bhatt remains imprisoned at Rajkot Central Jail and has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court challenging a Gujarat High Court order dismissing his plea earlier this year. His life and career, marked by high-profile cases, political entanglements, and legal setbacks, continue to be a focal point of public and legal scrutiny.
