Cops speak babus mum - Ahmedabad Mirror,Ahmedabad Mirror
While over 8 IPS officers in Gujarat have refused to toe government line and have invited ire of the BJP regime, it is surprising that not a single IAS officer has openly raised any objection so far against the administration
Rahul Sharma
Rahul Sharma had saved over 200 Muslim children in Bhavnagar in 2002 during the riots when an unruly mob tried to torch the madrassa they were in. He was immediately transferred from there to an inferior post in Ahmedabad where Sharma used his time and talent to collect call details pertaining to the riots and prepared a CD. In fact, it was Sharma’s CD that helped in the arrest of former minister Mayaben Kodnani and VHP leader Jaydeep Patel for their role in the riots. Now the government is keen to book him for this “criminal” act.
He is currently posted as Deputy Inspector General (Arms Unit) at Rajkot, considered to be a punishment posting. Sharma was served a notice by the state government recently asking him to explain as to why he had prepared a CD of call details of ruling party politicians, bureaucrats in the office of the chief minister and several police officials with the accused involved in Naroda Patiya, Naroda Gam and Gulbarg Society massacre cases. The call details for the period between February 27,2002 and March 4, 2002, were also submitted by Sharma to Nanavati Commission probing the Godhra and post-Godhra riots as also to Supreme Court–appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the 10 most heinous riot cases, including Naroda Patiya and Gulbarg cases.
R B Sreekumar
R B Sreekumar was the first IPS officer who openly came out against the Gujarat government. He says, he was victimised after he refused to carry out “illegal and unconstitutional’’ instructions from the government in connection with the genocide of Muslims. He was denied promotion. RB Shreekumar’s evidence helped the victims and rights activists to fight the battle for justice. Sreekumar had to approach the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) for his promotion, but he was promoted to the rank of Director General of Police (DGP) after his retirement.
Vivek Srivastava
Vivek Srivastava, currently posted as deputy director, Intelligence Bureau, New Delhi. During 2002 riots, he had arrested a BJP leader on charges of leading a mob to attack Muslims at Bhuj in Kutch district. Like Rahul Sharma, he was also shunted out to an insignificant post as deputy commissioner (prohibition and excise), Ahmedabad. However Vivek did not pursue his fight with the government further and quietly moved out of Gujarat.
Sanjiv Bhatt
Sanjiv Bhatt also stands sidelined. Working in the state intelligence department during the riots, he had reportedly attended the meeting at the residence of Modi on February 27, 2002. He reportedly told SIT that he would be ready to speak about what happened at the meeting if his deposition was required as per legal obligation after registration of regular criminal case. He is currently posted as principal at Police Training School at Sorath in Junagadh district.
Satish Chandra Verma
Satish Chandra Verma, an IPS officer hailing from Bihar, also became a victim of Modi’s wrath after he arrested a BJP MLA Shankar Chaudhary for communal rioting. He was immediately shifted to a non-fielding posting as principal of Junagadh Police Training School. Since then, he never got an executive or field posting. An upright officer Verma, as a member of SIT probing the Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case about three weeks ago, deposed before the Gujarat High Court on how his seniors in SIT made a bid to hush up the whole case and prove the old police theory that Ishrat and three others with her were on a mission to kill Chief Minister Narendra Modi and VHP leader Pravin Togadia.
Himanshu Bhatt
Himanshu Bhatt, another IPS official, who had taken action against a police sub inspector involved in communal riots in Banaskantha district, was immediately transferred out. He then applied for a course at Harvard. After returning from the two year course, he was not given any posting. Eventually he quit and left for US.
Rajnish Rai
Rajnish Rai, who had arrested three IPS officers — D G Vanzara, Rajkumar Pandian and Dinesh M N — for their involvement in Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, was also harassed with frequent transfers him to insignificant posts. He was also falsely implicated in a case of copying while appearing at LLB examination two years ago. Rajnish is on study leave and is pursuing a course at IIM, Ahmedabad.
Kuldip Sharma
Kuldip Sharma who was tipped to be the chief of Gujarat police was shunted to Sheep and Wool Development Corporation after he attempted to arrest a former cow protection minister involved in criminal activities. Kuldip was also the first officer to file an interim report in Supreme Court in Sohrabuddin fake encounter case. He has now moved on a central deputation, but his battle with Gujarat government continues. The state government reacted to his deputation to the Centre and pasted a show cause notice at his residence, asking him to explain procedural lapses in his just relinquished job at Sheep and Wool Development Corporation.