HC rejects Sanjiv Bhatt's petition seeking case diaries

Judge says petition bereft of merit

The Gujarat High Court today rejected a petition filed by suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt seeking case diaries of the investigation officer in connection with the 1997 Porbandar custodial torture case.

A single judge bench of Justice S R Brahmbhatt held that the petition moved by Bhatt was bereft of merit.

Last year, Bhatt had filed an application before the Porbandar magistrate seeking the investigation officer's case diaries in a custodial torture case filed against him by a history-sheeter called Naran Sudha Jadav.

In September, the magistrate rejected Bhatt's application, after which he moved the Gujarat High Court.

Today, the Gujarat High Court observed the magisterial court was well within its right, authority and power to reject request of the accused (Sanjiv Bhatt) when the accused's turn has not come for making such request.

Bhatt had been in news in the recent past for making allegations against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his handling of the 2002 riots.

Bhatt, who was posted as Superintendent of Police in Porbandar in 1997, and constable Vajubhai Chau, have been facing trial for alleged custodial torture of history-sheeter called Naran Sudha Jadav.

Jadav was arrested by Inspector M J Parmar while investigating a case of weapons and RDX smuggled from Pakistan and taken to Porbandar from Sabarmati Central jail in Ahmedabad in July 1997.

Later, Jadhav filed a complaint before the judicial magistrate in Porbandar, accusing Bhatt and Chau of custodial torture.