“Bhatt involved names of Modi,Haren Pandya for media attention”

Ahmedabad, 12 October, 2011

During hearing of Sanjiv Bhatt bail plea case, special Public Prosecutor SV Raju representing the government of Gujarat on Tuesday told Ahmedabad rural court that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has nothing to do with the FIR filed against suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt and his subsequent arrest and Bhatt’s allegation against Modi was simply to divert the attention from the main offense he had committed. Raju also said that adding involving the names of Modi and late Haren Pandya in affidavits was to attract media attention.

Raju argued that Bhatt was not arrested immediately after the FIR was filed in June and he was given ample time and four summons were issued despite which he did not appear before the investigating officer.

Raju also alleged that Bhatt had suppressed the fact that he had approached the Supreme Court for bail on the very next day of his arrest on October 1. The bail plea was later withdrawn from the SC registry on the same day and Bhatt’s lawyer Syed placed the fact on record only after filing bail application in local court here on October 3, Raju claimed.

Further hearing of this case will be held on Wednesday.