‘Tomorrow it could be you’: Sanjiv Bhatt’s wife warns every Indian citizen against ruthless regime

coastaldigest.com web desk
October 13, 2018

Shweta Bhatt, the wife former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhat, who has been facing the wrath of the government after he exposed the then state government’s involvement in 2002 Gujarat carnage, has written an open letter warning every Indian citizen against the brutality of the government.

In 2011, Sanjiv Bhatt had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court accusing Narendra Modi of being complicit in the 2002 Gujarat carnage. Bhatt was removed from the police service in 2015 after he refused to stop raising voice against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was the chief minister of Gujarat during the carnage.

On September 5 the Gujarat Police detained former police officer Sanjiv Bhatt in Ahmedabad for questioning in a 20-year-old criminal case relating to falsely framing a lawyer. He continues to remain in custody since then.

Bhatt’s wife in her letter uploaded on social media platforms has called upon every citizen of India, irrespective of his or her political or ideological inclination, to come out openly and question the regime:

Here’s the full text of Shweta Sanjiv Bhatt’s letter:

Since the past 4 months, the government has left no stone unturned in trying to subdue, victimise and harass our family.

1. In July, our security cover was removed, despite the government being fully aware of the threats on my husband’s life, as one of the main witnesses of the 2002 riots case.

2. A couple of days later, the AMC suddenly demolished parts of our house, in which we had lived for the past 23 years - an initiative based on absolutely illegal and flimsy grounds. They demolished the kitchen, the washrooms and parts of the bedrooms, while making sure to do irreparable damage to the structural integrity of the entire house.

3. On the 5th of September, the CID Crime branch entered our house ‪at 8am, on the grounds of picking up my husband for recording his “statement”. It is worth mentioning that the CID Crime Branch officers entered our bedroom while I was sleeping there, in full knowledge, shamelessly invading my privacy, despite Sanjiv having already met with them and changing to leave with them.

The events that unfolded are the following.

5th September:

Sanjiv was detained and arrested on the 5th of September 2018 in a 22-year-old case. The doorbell rang ‪at around 8 am. Led by the two officers, an entire unit of policemen barged into our house, covering it inside and out, some even trying to enter our bedroom until they were stopped by my son.

6th September:

On 6th September 2018, the CID/ (Gujarat) State Government presented Sanjiv in the Palanpur court in a 22-year-old case and asked for a remand of 14 days.

Fortunately, India’s democracy is grounded in the rule of law, and there are still judges standing by this founding but fading principle. Logically and courageously, the court refused to grant remand, observing that “there is no justifiable ground to grant the police remand at this stage”.

Unfortunately, the magistrate’s strict application of the law was labelled as an “act of insubordination” (to whom?), and her decision appealed.

7th September:

As was expected, the state challenged the Magistrate court’s order, without wasting a single day.

10th September:

The State’s appeal for Sanjiv’s remand was heard by the Gujarat High court ‪at 2:30 pm. Following the dismissal of their application for custody in the sessions court, the state frantically reiterated at length their previously cited argument, without having anything substantial to add.

The matter was partially heard and got adjourned until 2:30 pm on the 11th of September.

11th September:

The State’s appeal for remand, which had been dismissed by the sessions court, was granted by the High Court of Gujarat. The latter passed an order granting 10 days remand of Sanjiv to the state police.

18th of September:

We moved the Supreme Court challenging the remand order granted by the High Court of Gujarat; the hearing was scheduled for the 24th of September.

24th September:

The Supreme Court moved the hearing of the appeal to the 4th of October. Incidentally, by this time the remand period would already be over. Sanjiv was moved from police custody to judicial custody on the 21st.

4th October:

The Supreme Court, observing that the remand period was already over, directed the lawyers to “move the appropriate court” for the bail application.

10th October:

The bail application filed in the sessions court was heard by the judge. The state, in an attempt to further delay the process, requested for more time to prepare an affidavit challenging our bail application and was subsequently granted time ‪till the 16th of October.

It has now almost been a month since Sanjiv’s remand period elapsed, however, Sanjiv still remains in custody.

The above events, clearly show how scared the government is of Sanjiv Bhatt, and to what extent they would go to try to intimidate him and his family. We live in a country where democracy and judiciary should be celebrated, instead of being subverted and used for personal benefits and vendettas. As an Indian I feel deeply ashamed of seeing the current sorry state of affairs in the country and the way this government is punishing and hurting whistleblowers everywhere. This needs to come to an end, we need to bring this to an end.

From the 5th of September till the 12th of October, it’s been 37 days since Sanjiv was taken away from home, from his family, in a 22-year-old case. Yet today we are still struggling for bail. The next hearing is on the 16th of October, and we really hope that justice does prevail on that day.

After reading all of the above, I am sure most of you have a lot of questions in mind, regarding the functioning of the government and the way this systematic victimisation of whistleblowers and opponents is taking place. It’s time each and every one of us, irrespective of our political or ideological inclination, come out openly and question this regime, whenever we feel that someone is being wronged. These are the actions of a government left unquestioned. Is it not time that we hold the government responsible for their actions? Today it is us, tomorrow it could be you.

God Bless

#EnoughIsEnough #JusticeForSanjivBhatt

Comments

Fairman
 - 
Sunday, 14 Oct 2018

I request someone please open a page to support SANJEEV BHAT.

Bhat's Fair Su…
 - 
Saturday, 13 Oct 2018

Let us make a facebook group.

-    JUSTICE GROUP FOR SANJEEV BHAT'    

 

Social media has effectively united many people and deposed the country's top leaders, presidents.

Let all be united and fight for this innocent brother SANJEEV BHAT. He is proud of our Country.

 Regardless what is our cast, religion, let us all united, fight in support this innocent brother  against his own stateman  MODI.  

Shamless Modi, can be overthrown.  If anybody has the fear of his/her creator the  God, come forward and join hands.

Every religion commands not to bow to the injustice.  Let us teach MODI & his ciminal associates a good unforgettable lesson that TRUTH WILL NOT BE DEFEATED.

 

Jai  to Truth and Justice.

Shocked Indian
 - 
Saturday, 13 Oct 2018

They entered the bedroom when she was sleeping there... This shows what kind of people they are and what they can do. We must consider this as a wakeup call. Need to act in 2019 polls. Otherwise it will be too late. They can rape our wives. 

Niki Jobe
 - 
Saturday, 13 Oct 2018

If he was in Mumbai, they would have eliminated him during Mumbai terror attack just like they finished Hemant Karkare and other cops who had taken on saffron terrorists.

Madhusoodhan
 - 
Saturday, 13 Oct 2018

If this is the situation of a pure Brahmin like Sanjiv Bhatt, then what’s the fate of lower caste people in the country? It really scares us.

zahoor ahmed
 - 
Saturday, 13 Oct 2018

No Doubt, We Peace loving People with you always.

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coastaldigest.com news network
June 11,2020

Bengaluru, June 11: Amulya Leona, a college student, who was charged with sedition for raising "Pakistan zindabad" slogans in Bengaluru, has finally been granted bail. 

The court had denied her bail yesterday, saying she might abscond. But her lawyers had been pursuing another way of getting her out of jail where she has spent nearly four months.

Ms Leona's advocate, Prasanna R, said that the delay of the state in submitting a chargesheet in the case beyond the stipulated time meant she was eligible for "default bail".

"The default bail application was moved before the magistrate under whose jurisdiction the alleged crime was committed. The chargesheet has not been submitted by the state within 90 days. So default bail has been granted. We had moved the default bail plea on May 26 and again on May 29 when the court told us the earlier mail IDs had been disabled. A physical application was filed on June 2. The state filed the chargesheet on June 3," the lawyer said.

While the state tried to argue that they were entitled to an extension in the time allotted, the court hearing this aspect of the case gave an order favourable to Ms Leona. The process is on to release her.

The arrest of Ms Leona during a rally against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA in Bengaluru had led to a debate on the use of sedition charges.

The woman on a Facebook post had also said "zindabad" to many countries including India and Pakistan. She did also try to chant "Hindustan zindabad", but was soon silenced and whisked away. She was accused of sedition, causing enmity between communities and causing deliberate mischief.

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News Network
April 6,2020

Hubli, April 6: A disinfection tunnel was installed at the entrance of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) market here on Sunday.

The tunnel, installed with the help of Young India.org, sprays people with a small percentage of Sodium hypochlorite solution through nozzles in order to sanitise them before they enter the market.

"It is helpful for all the farmers, vegetable vendors and other people who are coming and going to the APMC market. This is very useful," said Jagdish Shettar, Minister of Large and Medium Scale Industries, Karnataka.

With regards to any plans of more devices being added in the near future, Shettar added: "Firstly, we will have to see what would be the public's reaction and then, later on, we will decide."

President of Confederation of Indian Industry, Hubli VSV Prasad said that the setting up of this tunnel can help curtail the spread of Coronavirus "by disinfecting the bacteria of the body".

While it was on the trial stage right now, Prasad hopes that the trial is successful and the chamber is set up in more public places. With regards to the cost of the tunnel, he said: "The cost is around Rs 1.5 Lac to Rs 2 Lac and hopefully it will come down once we go for production," he added.

Srinivas Joshi, a representative of Young India.org, speaking to news agency said: "We have added 1.8 percent of Sodium hypochlorite solution in 100 litres of water. It is pumped through high-pressure pumps and sprayed like a mist via nozzles for 3-5 seconds which is very less time to cause any kind of allergy."

"People who are allergic to chemicals should avoid going through this chamber. We are putting signboard very soon," he added.

The number of positive cases of coronavirus in the country continues to surge. As per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is 3,577 with 83 deaths.

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News Network
April 15,2020

Mangaluru, Apr 15: A 27-year-old man, who died of breathing problem at Banglagudda in Surathkal, has tested negative for COVID-19.

The entire area was panic-stricken following his death on Tuesday evening. Suspecting COVID-19, his throat swab samples were collected, said Mangaluru North MLA Dr Y Bharath Shetty. Now the test has proved he was negative for coronavirus.

The youth had collapsed suddenly on Tuesday evening and was rushed to a hospital where the doctors declared him brought dead.

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