Bhatt in dock for ‘indiscipline,misuse of office’

The proposal was sent to MHA three weeks back.

Bhatt,who had alleged the involvement of Chief Minister Narendra Modi in 2002 riots,was placed under suspension by the State Home Department under Rule 3(1) of All India Services (Discipline and Appeals) Rules (1969) on August 8,2011. The reasons cited for his suspension were his unauthorised absence from duty,non-appearance before a departmental panel and alleged misuse of official vehicles.

The state government’s proposal against Bhatt notes that during his posting as principal of SRP Training College in Junagadh,he had been reported absent without leave for two years.

When the former state DGP and ADGP of Gujarat Police Training Academy (GPA) sent him several correspondences to explain his absence and resume duties,he didn’t revert till the DGP began an inquiry against him. Bhatt had during the inquiry that he had to be present before Nanavati Commission. However,he had neither sought official leave nor the permission to present himself before any commission,as required by all government officers.

In the proposal,the state government also mentioned that he shifted to Ahmedabad without informing the GPA,along with five orderlies he was entitled to use as a DIG rank officer.

According to sources,the Home Department had initiated inquiries against Bhatt in 2003 when he had allegedly misused manpower as Rajkot DCP and Banaskantha SP. At that time,too,he had brought police constables to his residence for personal and household work.

Bhatt,a 1988-batch IPS officer,is already facing three criminal cases. Bhatt had also allegedly made constable K D Panth sign a petition to show that he was present at Chief Minister’s meeting in February 2002. Panth had,later,filed an FIR against Bhatt for threatening and forcing him to sign the petition.

Naran Jadav,the accused in the 1993 RDX landing case,lodged in Porbandar sub-jail,had accused Bhatt of torturing him in custody. In a custodial death case,one Prabhudas Vaishnani allegedly succumbed to injuries inflicted on him by Bhatt.

The state government had earlier written to the Centre to extend Bhatt’s suspension. However,his suspension was revoked in Jamnagar custodial death case by the central review committee in August 2012 after he received relief from court. However,Bhatt is still under suspension over indiscipline and other criminal cases against him.