Sanjiv Bhatt, retired Inspector sent in police remanded for 10 days
Ahmedabad, Sep 11 : The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday accepted the state government's plea for police remand of arrested former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt and sent him and a retired police officer in 10-day police custody.
Justice R.P. Dholariya allowed the state's plea and granted 10-day remand of Bhatt and retired Inspector I.B. Vyas.
Bhatt and Vyas were arrested by the CID-Crime Branch last week on the charge of framing a lawyer from Rajasthan, Sumersingh Rajpurohit, under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act after allegedly planting 1.25 kg opium in a hotel room in Palanpur in Banaskantha district in 1996.
The CID-Crime is re-investigating the case after the High Court orders in April.
Rajpurohit had alleged that he was framed by Bhatt at the behest of former High Court Judge R.R. Jain in connection with a property dispute. Bhatt, a 1988-batch IPS officer, was dismissed from service in 2015 for "unauthorised absence from duty."
Following their arrest last week, the CID-Crime had sought the two officers' custody for 14 days which was rejected by a magisterial court. The CID-Crime then challenged the order in the High Court.
On Monday, Bhatt's counsel I.H. Syed had contested the remand revision plea of the state, and submitted before the High Court that the government action was contrary to its stand in the Supreme Court in the same case when it had defended him.
Syed pointed out that Rajpurohit had already got an FIR registered in Rajasthan against Bhatt, Vyas and several other Gujarat police officers in November 1996.
"In that case, I (Bhatt) have been bailed out and a charge sheet already filed by Rajasthan Police. That charge sheet has been challenged by the Gujarat government in the Supreme Court and the same has been stayed by the apex court since May 2000."
"So, I cannot be subjected to an investigation for the same incident twice. Rajasthan Police has already investigated that incident," Syed contended.
Bhatt's counsel added that "the fact that the apex court stayed the charge sheet filed by Rajasthan Police was concealed before the Gujarat High Court when it ordered further probe in the Palanpur case (in April)."
However, the High Court rejected his submissions.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
