Guj govt accepts resignation of IPS officer Rahul Sharma

The Gujarat government today accepted the resignation of IPS officer Rahul Sharma, who had taken on the then state administration over the 2002 communal riots.
Sharma had applied for early retirement during November last year and gave three months notice, which ends tommrrow.
"We have decided to accept Sharma's resignation. He will be relieved from his duties from February 28, which is the last date as per his three months notice," state Home Secretary G R Aloria said.
Sharma is a 1992 batch Gujarat cadre IPS officer and currently serving as the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Armed Units at Vadodara. He has openly taken on the Gujarat government over the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

Sharma had submitted a CD carrying call data records of the important state functionaries and leaders of right-wing groups like Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Praishdad, which also described the movements of those leaders during the 2002 violence, before Justice Nanavati Commission.
The call records were compiled by Sharma during the investigation of Naroda Patiya, Naroda Gam and Gulbarg Society riots case. He had compiled the details in a CD and submitted it to the Commission.

In 2011, the state government had charge-sheeted Sharma stating that he had deliberately not submitted the CD of call record details of the 2002 riots to investigating authorities who were probing the riots cases and instead he later gave it to the riots panel headed by retired Supreme Court Justice G T Nanavati.

Sharma was also issued six show cause notices by the state government for his alleged misconduct in the service.
"Giving cash awards" to drivers and subordinates and committing "spelling mistakes" were among the charges in those notices issued to him.
Sharma had then also moved the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) to quash the charge-sheet against him, which stated that he had missed the CD of crucial call records of 2002 riots.
Sharma had also challenged the show cause notices before a bench of CAT, alleging that the Gujarat home department officials made adverse remarks in his Annual Confidential Report (ACR), which had prevented his promotion.

However, the CAT in initial hearing granted stay over the show-cause notice, later vacated the stay leading Sharma to approach the Gujarat High Court, where the case is still pending.
In his petition before the High Court, Sharma alleged that the state government's action against him was as an act with malafide intentions.