Advocate VH Kanara, whose name figures in a complaint against the IPS officer, Monday withdrew the petition in the Gujarat High Court.
Advocate VH Kanara, whose name figures in a complaint against IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, Monday withdrew the petition in the Gujarat High Court seeking protection against alleged harassment by police, after an assurance from the government.
Kanara had prepared the affidavit of constable KD Pant. Pant later alleged that Bhatt forcibly made him sign the affidavit. Bhatt was arrested in this case, and released on bail only today.
On the night of October 14, Kanara had approached Justice RH Shukla of High Court at latter's residence, fearing arrest. Justice Shukla had restrained police from arresting him till today.
Kanara's lawyer, BM Mangukia, today sought further protection, saying that his client was not involved in the case.
Special Public Prosecutor S V Raju assured that Kanara would not be harassed, and would be allowed to keep his lawyer present during questioning, which will be video recorded.
Earlier Raju said that Kanara was needed to be questioned as his name figures in Pant's FIR. For now Kanara was a witness in the case, but if his involvement was found to be that of a co-accused, further action would be initiated, Raju said.
Upon the prosecutor's assurance, advocate Mangukia proposed to withdraw the petition, which the court allowed.
Mangukia had alleged that police were putting pressure on Kanara to give a statement against the state Congress president, Arjun Modhvadia.
Police allegedly wanted advocate Kanara to say that apart from Bhatt, Modhwadia too was involved in preparing the affidavit.
After Kanara refused to give such a statement, he feared that police would arrest him, his lawyer said.
The affidavit in question was about Bhatt's presence in the February 27, 2002 meeting called by the Chief Minister Narendra Modi, after Godhra train burning incident.
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