Godhra: Sanjiv Bhatt denied access to records?

Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Sanjiv Rajendra Bhatt, who filed an affidavit accusing Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi of complicity in the 2002 Godhra case, on Tuesday said he is being denied access to documents and records of the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) on the case which he needs to submit as evidence before Nanavati-Shah Commission.

“I have written twice to the DGP (Director General of Police) and ADGP (Additional Director General of Police) seeking access to documents and information, but I am yet to hear from them. These documents should be provided to me if I have to make a meaningful deposition before the Nanavati Commission,” Bhatt told reporters.

Bhatt said he needs to have access to pink envelope reports sent out the Chief Minister by SIB and an internal document of SIB, authored by Bhatt and titled ? ?Godhra Incident of 27/02/2002 ? An Intelligence Analysis?, along with other records between Feb 27, 2002 and Sept 17, 2002.

The senior cop said he has also written to He has also written a letter to Special Investigation Team (SIT) chairman R K Raghavan for certified copies of his statements given to them.

He has to appear before the Commission on May 16.

Bhatt has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court naming Modi in connection with the Godhra case and said the police ?blindly? followed the CM?s instructions that led to the decline of law and order in the state.

He said Modi asked the police to remain ?indifferent? to the rioters.

?The effects of directions given by the Chief Minister were widely manifested in the half-hearted approach and the evident lack of determination on the part of Police while dealing with the widespread incidents of orchestrated violence during the State sponsored Gujarat bandh on 28th February 2002 and also during the weeks that followed,? read a portion of his affidavit.

The officer also claimed to be present at the closed door ?controversial? meeting that was held at Modi?s residence on February 27, 2002 night.

?As an officer serving with the State Intelligence Bureau at that relevant point of time, I was not only present at the meeting held at the residence of the Chief Minister on the night of 27.2.2002, but had also witnessed the apparent lack of firmness on parts of many Police Units while dealing with the emergent situation,? Bhatt said in his affidavit.

Bhatt alleged that the SC-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) is trying to ?shield? Modi.

The infamous Gujarat riots of 2002 left hundreds of Muslims dead, injured and tortured and came as a blot in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP rule). The riots followed an incident of train burning in Godhra in which Hindus returning from Ayodhya were killed by a Muslim mob.

Around 1,000 supporters of prime accused Maulvi Umarjihad attacked the coach at the Godhra station and torched it killing 59 people and injuring many.