‘Cong egging on officers to rebel,Sharma harmed riots probe’

The state government has also alleged that Congress could go to any extent to topple a democratically elected government.

Chidambaram had expressed concern over Gujarat government’s action against senior IPS officers who are locked in a confrontation with it over the post-Godhra riots and said if the affected officers want,the Centre could intervene in the matter.

While IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt,who had filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court accusing Chief Minister Narendra Modi of giving rioters a free hand,was suspended a few days ago,a DIG-rank

officer Rahul Sharma was issued a show-cause notice for giving CDs of phone call records of leaders and police officers during the 2002 riots to various agencies,including the SIT probing into the riots.

“On the issue of Rahul Sharma,I would like to say that we have not served any chargesheet to him,” state government spokesperson and Health Minister Jaynarayan Vyas said.

Vyas alleged that a false propaganda is being spread that the state government is taking punitive actions against Sharma for his depositions in the courts and commissions,which is far from the truth.

“Sharma has committed gross misconduct by taking away vital CDs from the case papers. It is not the case that the state government issued a show-cause notice to Sharma since he deposed before courts and commissions. In fact,it is the opposite. Because of his not giving the CDs to investigating officer or the supervisory officer,he has caused serious infirmity to the riot cases investigation,” Vyas alleged.

“Sharma was serving as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Control),Ahmedabad,between March 24,2002 and July 3,2002. He was not the Investigating Officer (IO) or the direct supervisory officer in the riot cases for which the compact disks were procured from cell phone service providers,” he added.

From the call records data,obtained from the private service providers,Sharma had prepared a CD detailing the calls made by important people in state administration including ministers,police officials and also of VHP and Bajrang Dal activists during the 2002 communal violence.

“Sharma,on receiving the said CDs,did not include the same as case property (muddamal),” he said.

“He neither handed over the same as case property to the supervisory officer S S Chudasama,Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) in Ahmedabad city,nor to the investigating officer G L Khunti,” Vyas further said.

“He did not inform the court of jurisdiction about the procurement of CDs and unlawfully retained the same with him,” the government spokesperson said.

“Sharma,on his transfer and at the time of relinquishing his charge as DCP (Control Room) in Ahmedabad city,did not hand over the aforesaid case property to his successor or investigating officer of this case and illegally carried the CDs with him,” Vyas said.

“However,the vested interests are trying to mislead people and the nation by false allegations. These forces are trying to shield indisciplined and delinquent officers in the name of Godhra riots. These elements are attempting to interfere in the administrative function of the state,” Vyas further said.

“It seems it is a fashion to support any amount of misconduct,dereliction of duty and recalcitrant behaviour of anybody who claims that he knows something about 2002 riots or who speaks out against the state government,” Vyas said.

The minister alleged that the Congress has come out in the open supporting such indisciplined conduct of an all-India service officer,which should be a matter of concern for the entire nation.

“This attitude of the Congress is dangerous to the federal governance of the country. The appeal made by the Congress to shield such officers by the Union government and the Supreme Court is a direct invitation to fan rebellion against the state government and encourage political activities by a service officer,” Vyas alleged.

“This shows that the Congress can go to any extent

to topple a democratically elected government. This should be condemned by all who believe in rule of law,” he added.

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