Ex-IPS Bhatt gets 20-yr jail for planting drugs

AHMEDABAD: A special court on Thursday sentenced ex-IPS officer

Sanjiv Bhatt

to 20 years in jail for framing a lawyer in a

false NDPS case

. The court, in Gujarat's Palanpur, has ordered that his sentence will resume after he completes his life term in a

custodial death case

in Jamnagar.
Bhatt was found guilty of planting opium on a Rajasthan-based lawyer in 1996 to coerce him into vacating a shop in Pali, Rajasthan.

Bhatt received a

20-year jail

sentence under section 21(C) of NDPS Act for possessing a commercial quantity of contraband, and sec 27(A) for financing illicit traffic and harbouring offenders. He was also fined Rs 4.8 lakh across 11 sections.
Bhatt known to harass, beat up innocent citizens: Court

Failure to pay the fine in each section will result in an additional year of imprisonment. He was awarded different jail terms for various sections of NDPS and IPC.
The court considered Bhatt's criminal history, including his conviction in a 1990 custodial death case in Jamnagar district, allegations of coercing his subordinate KD Panth into swearing a false affidavit, and alleged fabrication of evidence to frame innocent persons, including PM Modi, in the criminal conspiracy behind the 2002 riots.

Additional sessions judge JN Thakkar noted that Bhatt, as Banaskantha district SP, misused his influence and office to frame lawyer Sumersinh Rajpurohit in a false NDPS case to take possession of a shop in Pali town. Bhatt purchased opium, had it planted in room no. 305 of Hotel Lajwanti in Palanpur, and wrongfully arrested the lawyer. He prepared false case diaries and created false case records, misusing his power, position, and subordinate police officials.
The court further observed that Bhatt's criminal history revealed that he, as a high-ranking police officer, enlisted the help of other police officials to harass many innocent citizens and was known to beat innocent citizens in police custody. In one case, a person died, and Bhatt was convicted of murder. He employed various tactics to delay proceedings and was known for making scandalous remarks against judges conducting the trial.
In 2019, a Jamnagar sessions court sentenced Bhatt to life imprisonment under section 302 of the IPC, a decision upheld by Gujarat HC in Jan.
The court has ordered Bhatt's transfer from the sub-jail in Palanpur to Jamnagar prison to serve his life sentence in the custodial death case.
Bhatt's wife, Shweta, approached Gujarat HC on Thursday, requesting that he be allowed to stay on in Palanpur prison.

Palanpur court

was informed about this recent litigation, according to special prosecutor Amit Patel.