SIT quizzes Sanjeev Bhatt for 5 hours

The Supreme Court-appointed special investigation team (SIT) which is probing some cases arising out of the 2002 riots, questioned IPS officer Sanjeev Bhatt on Monday for around 5 hours. Bhatt was quizzed from 11:20 am to 4:20 pm at the SIT office in Gandhinagar.

Bhatt, who is currently posted as principal, Sorath Chowky, Junagadh, was posted in Ahmedabad in February 2002 as deputy commissioner, Intelligence. He was reportedly present at the closed-door meeting held at the chief minister Narendra Modi's official residence in Gandhinagar on February 27, 2002.

It may be mentioned here that Bhatt had earlier recorded a statement before the probe team. He had reportedly told the SIT that he was called to the meeting by the then DGP, K Chakravarthi, regarding the intelligence failure that had allegedly taken place at Godhra railway station, and during the riots.

He is reported to have told the SIT that he would reveal other information only if there was a legal obligation arising from registration of a regular criminal case. In that case, he would be duty-bound to disclose facts about the discussion held at the chief minister's meeting, he is reported to have said.