Cop’s transfer turned ‘friends into foes’

Last Tuesday night’s clash and the series of complaints and counter-complaints that followed is a ‘‘fallout of this friction’’, said a senior officer, adding that Vanzara was ‘‘angry that Vaghela did little to stop his transfer’’.

During his stint in the Prohibition and Excise department from 1998 to 2000, Vanzara was the Minister’s favourite officer, said sources. Their association turned into family friendship, especially with Fakirbhai’s sons, Jitu and Alpesh, bonding with Vanzara’s sons, Arjunsinh and Prithvirajsinh.

The bonhomie, officials said, had become a point of discussion in the corridors of the Sachivalaya and police circles. After two years, his superiors in the Prohibition department reportedly made representations to the Minister to replace Vanzara. Shunted out and made ADC to Governor and later posted as Deputy Commissioner (Crime) on May 10, the transfer did not go well with Vanzara.

Some said he was moved because Vaghela’s sons had been taking ‘‘advantage’’ of their closeness to Vanzara. Vanzara had reportedly pulled the Minister’s sons out of trouble many times. So when Vaghela did not stop the transfer, Vanzara was angry. ‘‘Since then, their egos have been clashing. Soon, acrimony developed between the sons of the minister and Vanzara as well,’’ a senior officer said.

After lodging complaints against each other’s sons, Vaghela and Vanzara are now trying to play down things, insisting that they’re still friends. On Friday, the Minister said Vanzara perhaps beat up his (Vaghela’s) sons because his own son Prithviraj got eight stitches on the head. ‘‘There is no other reason I can think of,’’ Vaghela said. ‘‘There has been no friction after he was transferred from the Prohibition department.’’ Vanzara said his family relations of many years with Vaghela remain unchanged.