Son salutes IPS officer who took on Gujarat government over 2002 riots

New Delhi: IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, who had taken on the Gujarat government over its handling of 2002 riots, was a happy father on Thursday. A day after he was dismissed from the service, his son Shantanu Bhatt came out in full support of his father in a ‘touching’ message sent from London.

Sanjiv Bhatt has posted his message on Facebook, saying, “Shweta and I are to proud to have a loving son like him”. The message reads, “On this sad day, when the Republic of India loses one of its brightest, most intelligent, upright and courageous officer. I would like to salute you dad.. for doing what was right without even thinking once what effects it might have on you and and your career. We as a family have always stood behind you, supporting you and we will continue you to do so...And lastly, I would like to congratulate you for getting freedom from the shackles of this rancorous government..”

Speaking exclusively to the Deccan Chronicle from Ahmedabad, Mr Bhatt questioned the timing of termination of his service and accused the Modi government of “intolerance and a deliberate and devious attempt to malign him” through the sex tapes.

He charged the Centre of dismissing him without “properly going through his representation.” Mr Bhatt claimed that the Gujarat government “wanted to malign him before terminating him” and issued him a showcause notice on a video purportedly showing him in an illicit relationship with a woman, only a day after he was sacked on August 14.

A 1988 batch IPS officer, Bhatt had claimed that Modi, the then Gujarat CM allegedly told his officers to “allow Hindus to vent their anger”.