Former IPS Officer Sanjiv Bhatt Sentenced to 20 Years in Jail

A sessions court in Banaskantha district, Gujarat, handed former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Sanjiv Bhatt a 20-year prison sentence in a 1996 drug planting case.

Bhatt was convicted under various sections of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC), receiving a hefty fine along with his jail term.

Legal Proceedings and Concurrent Sentences against Sanjiv Bhatt:

Public Prosecutor Amit Patel outlined the specifics of the sentencing, indicating that the terms for different charges would run concurrently, ensuring a combined duration of incarceration.

Bhatt’s involvement in high-profile cases, including accusations against the Narendra Modi-led government and his dismissal from service, has garnered significant attention.

Allegations and Accusations Against Sanjiv Bhatt:

Accusations against Bhatt include claims of unauthorized absence from service and allegations of implicating the government in the 2002 Gujarat riots.

The Ministry of Home Affairs dismissed Bhatt from service in 2015, citing unauthorized absence. Bhatt’s vocal criticism of the government further fueled political tensions.

The drug planting case dates back to 1996 when Bhatt, then Deputy Superintendent of Police, Palanpur, was involved in the arrest of lawyer Sumer Singh Rajpurohit, accused of drug possession.

Custodial Death Case and Subsequent Legal Actions:

In addition to the drug planting case, Bhatt faces a life sentence for a custodial death in 1990. The incident involved the death of Prabhudas Madhavji Vaishnani while in police custody, leading to Bhatt’s conviction in 2019.

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