Former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt has been handed a significant verdict by the Palanpur sessions court in Banaskantha district, as he faces a 20-year jail term for his role in a narcotics case dating back to 1996.
The court's ruling establishes Bhatt's culpability in orchestrating the planting of drugs to falsely implicate a lawyer from Rajasthan in Palanpur, Gujarat. This incident unfolded during Bhatt's tenure as the Superintendent of Police in the area.
In the course of events, Bhatt arrested lawyer Sumersingh Rajpurohit under the NDPS Act, alleging the discovery of opium in his hotel accommodation. However, subsequent investigations by the Rajasthan police uncovered evidence suggesting Rajpurohit was framed in a bid to coerce a property transfer. This revelation prompted former police inspector I.B. Vyas to advocate for a thorough investigation back in 1999.
Bhatt's detention under the NDPS Act by the state CID in 2018 led to his confinement in the Palanpur sub-jail. Despite Bhatt's efforts to transfer the trial and contest the court proceedings, the Supreme Court remained resolute in its dismissal of his appeals, even fining him for his allegations of judicial bias.
According to the court's directive, Bhatt's 20-year sentence will commence once he completes his ongoing life term in a custodial death case in Jamnagar.
Having been relieved from service in 2015, Bhatt has been behind bars since 2018.
Judge J.N. Thakkar convicted Bhatt on multiple counts under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh alongside the prison sentence.
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