Living without Sanjiv Bhatt: It's been over nine months. I haven't had any tea as I can't have it with Sanjiv on our balcony
Former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt has been sentenced to life imprisonment by Jamnagar Sessions Court in Gujarat, which found him guilty in a 1990 custodial death case. Bhatt's wife Shweta writes on life without him.
In 1988, Sanjiv joined the Indian Police Services — a graduate from IIT, he could have led a peaceful and extremely comfortable life.
However, he chose to appear for the UPSC and became an IPS officer to serve this nation and its people. For 27 years, he did his duty honourably and diligently, not buckling under political pressure, always following one single absolute — to live up to his highest values and never to a lesser standard, no matter how long or hard the struggle.
I now believe 27 years of his dedicated service was rewarded by persecution, victimisation and vindictiveness — all this, because he dared to speak up against a certain regime.
Like many other government officials, Sanjiv could have faked amnesia or sold his soul. He could have garnered perks and accolades, simply by looking the other way or indulging in inaction. But that isn’t Sanjiv! He isn’t one to abandon those in need, those who were victimised by perpetrators of hate and violence. He isn’t one to silently watch while injustice is being inflicted.
Despite continuous victimisation following Sanjiv’s deposition before the SIT and the Nanavati Commission, he did not back down, disappear in silence or seek a transfer; he continued to fight against perpetrators of hate and violence, no matter what the consequences.
This is what Sanjiv Bhatt is, a man of immense honour and integrity.
That man is my husband, my best friend, my corner stone; that man is Sanjiv Bhatt.
Sanjiv and I met each other 35 years ago. I was all of 19 and he was all of 20, both preparing for the UPSC exams, stars in our eyes, with dreams of changing the world.
For 35 years, Sanjiv and I have been each other’s closest confidantes, harshest critics, unwavering and unyielding supporters, binding mortar, the Rock of Gibraltar.
He is a loyal friend, loving husband, a wonderful son and son in-law, an excellent father and an officer par excellence. He has giving meaning and purpose to my life, and we’ve always been each other’s sheet-anchor and conscience-keeper through all the fair tidings and rough seas of our voyage together.
Up until now, I led my life with absolute abandon — nowadays, I cannot even sleep.
It’s as if my peace and happiness left the house with Sanjiv on the 5th of September, 2018.
For years, Sanjiv and I would always have our morning tea together in the balcony. It has now been 9½ months, I haven’t had tea, nor have I stepped foot in the balcony.
My days, which would otherwise pass in spending time with Sanjiv and my children, have been taken over by endless meetings with lawyers, running from pillar to post, taking some extremely crucial decisions of our lives. With every step I take, every decision I make, I cannot help but feel anxious, confused — sometimes helpless. Whenever in doubt, I pause and wonder what Sanjiv might have done, how would he have tackled the situation — and I follow suit.
Every day, I am asked if I have lost faith? If I ever hope to get justice? Every day, I tell myself, this too shall pass, and it shall pass very soon, for evil may seem invincible for a time, but in the end, it is always the truth that is triumphant.
On the 5th of September 2019, when the CID Crime Branch barged into our bedroom in the wee hours of the morning to take Sanjiv away for “recording his statement” over a 22 year-old case, little did anyone know it would be the last time we would get to see Sanjiv for months to come. When I first took to Facebook on the 5th of September 2018, I would keep writing 'days' since Sanjiv was detained.
I have now started writing 'months'.
It is disappointing to see some lawyers in court, in an attempt perhaps to overperform and please certain functionaries, use derogatory language for Sanjiv, a highly educated, very senior, honest and decorated officer. But perhaps, to expect decency, grace and honesty in the present situation is like getting blood from a stone.
When an innocent man is implicated for a crime I believe he did not commit, you are not only persecuting him, but his entire family.
Jamnagar was Sanjiv’s very first posting.
Fresh out of the academy, he had taken charge as ASP Jamnagar in October 1990. On 30th October 1990, following the stopping of LK Advani’s Rath Yatra and his subsequent arrest, there was an outbreak of uncontrolled communal riots across Jamnagar. Following the declaration of a Bharat Bandh by the VHP and the BJP, further outbreaks of violence were anticipated in communally sensitive states across the country. Despite the declaration of a curfew on 30th October 1990, various uncontrolled incidents of communal rioting were reported in Jamjodhpur. 133 rioters from these incidents were arrested by the local PSI and his team in connection of TADA.
The deceased Mr Prabhudas Vaishnani and his brother Mr Ramesh Vaishani were one of the 133 rioters arrested for indulging in communal violence and arson.
The 133 rioters were arrested by the Police Inspector of Jamjodhpur and his team between 9:30 AM and 12:15 PM and were subsequently kept in his custody in connection with the TADA case. Sanjiv and his team, as I know it, arrived at the Jamjodhpur police station at 1:30 PM — long after the arrest by the local police.
From everything I know, at no point in time was the deceased arrested by Sanjiv, nor was he in his custody or was ever interrogated by him — furthermore, not once did the deceased ever complain of ill-treatment, grievance or torture while being presented to the Judicial Magistrate court, while in custody or after being released from custody on bail. No injuries or evidence of mistreatment was apparently observed. Mr Prabhudas Vaishani passed away 10 days after being released from custody on bail. The hospital records as well as the forensic postmortem records noted that there were no internal or external indication of any injury/torture or any grievance. A complaint of custodial torture was made by one Amrutlal Madjavji Vaishnani, reportedly an active member of the VHP/BJP, after the demise of Mr Prabhudas Vaishnani.
On exhaustive investigation, taking into cognisance medical, post-mortem and specialist reports, it was concluded that there was no evidence found against Sanjiv and that he had performed his duty with utmost sincerity. Thereby, the home department, Government of Gujarat, refused sanction to prosecute — and protected Sanjiv and the other officers in right earnest till 2011.
Following Sanjiv’s deposition regarding the 2002 riots of Gujarat, there was an immediate withdrawal of the revision application filed by the state of Gujarat protecting the officers — instructions were reportedly given the very next day to start the immediate prosecution of Sanjiv.
To my mind, there cannot be a more blatant example of vindictive persecution of a totally innocent man who did nothing but perform his duty in an outstanding and exemplary manner during the most difficult phase of communal rioting.
But the fight now continues — Sanjiv’s fight goes beyond a particular person or a particular party; it is against a specific ideology, one propagating fear and hate, spread by some for their own benefits. Sanjiv does not view India, his nation, as a simple piece of land where one only belongs because his ancestors belonged; he envisions it as a place of solace, where it should be possible to live a full life and enjoy freedom to its fullest form, safe and at peace from within, without making any compromises with mind and soul, free from hate and fear.
There are thousands of people with Sanjiv, praying for him and us; it is my promise to all of them that I shall not rest till I bring Sanjiv home, his dignity and honour intact.
Everything I am, and everything I am not, is because of him.
He is, therefore I am.