Sanjiv Bhatt in encounter specialist crime branch, says wife

A day after suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt was arrested, his family Saturday said they feared for his life and have written to the Gujarat Commissioner of Police demanding justice.

"Since yesterday, I am not allowed to meet Sanjiv. The police officials are not even allowing the lawyer to meet him. Then how can we file his bail application," his wife Shweta Bhatt said.

The IPS officer was arrested on Friday in connection with an FIR filed against him by police constable KD Pant for threatening him and making him sign a false affidavit with regard to a meeting called by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on February 27, 2002.

"A case was lodged against Sanjiv in Ghatlodia Police Station and he was handed over to crime branch, who are encounter specialists. I can't trust them at all, I fear for his life," she said.

"My house was raided by over 35-40 policemen yesterday for more than two hours without any intimation. They took away Sanjiv and since then there is no communication with him," Shweta said.

"In wake of these circumstances, I have written letters to Director General of Police Chitranjan Singh, Ahmedabad Police Commissioner Sudhir Sinha and Chief Judicial Magistrate of a local court, narrating what is happening with us and demanding justice," she said.

"We shall never get justice in Gujarat," she felt.

The IPS officer had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court alleging complicity on the part of Modi during the 2002-post Godhra riots.

He is likely to be produced before a local court here later in the day.