…visits Pradip Sharma in jail,says Modi framed him

Around 4.10 pm on Tuesday,Vaghela,along with local Congress leaders,arrived at Palara jail and spent about 20 minutes with the IAS officer,who along with his IPS brother Kuldip Sharma is virtually at war with the Narendra Modi government.

“I expressed my sympathies with the upright officer Sharma. I told him he is still remembered by people of Kutch for his bold and quick decisions. I told him that people of Kutch, like me,are also with the officer,” Vaghela said. “I told him I knew he was not guilty and that this shall pass too.”

“What kind of sadbhavna (goodwill) the state government has offered to its own officer. To open old files and frame wrong charges is nothing but durbhavna (ill-will),” Vaghela said.

The former union minister said his visit to the jail would send shockwaves in the state government,but this was only the beginning.

While Pradip is behind bars,his elder brother Kuldip,a strong contender for the state police chief’s job,is on deputation to the Centre after being transferred to Sheep and Wool Development Corporation. He was served a chargesheet by the state government but any further action was stayed by Central Administrative Tribunal. Kuldip had also moved CAT against the state government downgrading his Annual Confidential Report.

Pradip Sharma has been booked in connection with five land scams,including four in Kutch district,where he led post-earthquake rehabilitation work during his tenure as collector between 2003 to 2007.

The CID (crime) that arrested him in January 2010 has accused him of bending laws and misusing power in relocation of wholesale market at Bhuj and favouring industries like Welspun and Zindal Steel in acquiring land at cheaper rates.

The Supreme Court recently issued notice to the Gujarat government,asking why investigation of cases against Sharma should not be handed over to CBI. The SC notice came on a plea by Sharma that he was implicated in wrong cases after his brother Kuldip exposed government’s role in several corruption cases.