Gujarat riots: Top cop Rahul Sharma chargesheeted

Ahmedabad - 13 August 2011: The Narendra Modi government on Saturday chargesheeted senior police officer Rahul Sharma for "indiscipline" and for failing to submit mobile call records CDs of that time as case property. "He has been given the chargesheet today morning because he failed to explain to the show cause notice served to him in January this year," a top bureaucrat in the Chief Minister Office (CMO) told HT.

He added that Sharma has been charged with violating provision of law by not submitting two CDs, which would have been used in the case for investigation.

"We have got a copy of the charge sheet today and now will decide a next move," said Sharma's lawyer Mukul Sinha.

Yesterday, Gujarat government had issued a detailed press release asserting that no chargesheet was yet issued to Sharma. The release also stated that certain vested interests were at work to create false propaganda maligning the Gujarat government.

"Because of his not giving the CDs to IO or Supervisory officer, he has caused serious infirmity to the investigation," stated the release, claiming that Rahul Sharma was not the Investigating Officer (IO) or the direct supervisory officer for the offences for which the Compact Disks were procured from cell phone service providers.

It added, "Rahul Sharma grossly violated the provisions of law, deliberately caused harm to the investigation of the riots cases by not depositing the CDs as case property."

Chargesheet to the senior cop, whose testimonies before the Nanavati Commission and the Supreme Court appointed SIT have exposed the role the Narendra Modi government and it's machinery played during and after the riots, was in the offing asthe chief minister had cleared it on Wednesday.

Known for his impeccable integrity and fearless approach, Sharma is DIG (armed units) in Rajkot. During his stint as DCP, police control room, in 2002, he had prepared two CDs containing details of mobile phone records of all the government officials, politicians and ministers, which established the location and movements of the ministers and politicians during the riots.

Those call details form the crucial piece of evidence to prove involvement of several politicians in the riots and also inaction by the police.

It was based on those call records, former minister of state Dr Mayaben Kodanani and VHP leader Dr Jaidip Patel were arrested by the SIT in connection with Naroda Patia massacre in which 95 people were burnt to death.

source: Hindustan Times