By TCN Special Correspondent,
Ahmadabad: In yet another embarrassment to Chief Minister Narendra Modi, a suspended IAS officer Pradeep Sharma has alleged that during 2002 anti-Muslim riots, he had reportedly been approached by an official of chief minister’s office (CMO) to ask his brother Kuldeep Sharma not to protect Muslims.
A senior IPS official, Kuldeep was Inspector General of Police (Ahmedabad Range) and several areas under him, particularly some small towns in Anand and Kheda districts had witnessed large scale anti-Muslim violence.
Pradeep Sharma
Pradeep has made these allegations in a letter to Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by former CBI director R K Raghavan.
Pradeep has said in the letter that he was ready to depose before SIT if the latter wishes so.
Pradeep, who was suspended in connection with a land scam in Bhuj and is currently in Bhuj jail, has said in the letter that he wanted to reveal the date, timings and instructions given on phone to ask his brother not to take proactive action in favour of Muslims. Pradeep said he would also reveal the name of the official who approached him.
Pradeep was the municipal commissioner of Jamnagar during the riots when he received instructions from CMO.
Pradeep’s disclosures suggesting that CMO officials allegedly tried to obstruct the protection to the Muslims under mob attack during 2002 riots came close on the heels of senior IPS official Sanjiv Bhatt leveling allegations that Modi wanted to teach lessons to the Muslims by allowing free hand to the Hindu mobs.
Bhatt has made the allegations in an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court. Bhatt alleged that SIT sleuths were hostile to him and were not willing to record his statements pertaining to a larger conspiracy behind the riots. He alleged that his depositions were clandestinely leaked to the Modi government and said he was facing threats.
Kuldeep enjoys the reputation of being one of the most upright police officials and faced the wrath of Modi after he as CID (crime) chief allowed CID (crime) sleuths to submit interim probe report in Sohrabuddin fake encounter case to the Supreme Court and that opened a can of worms resulting into arrest of Modi’s Man Friday and Minister of State for Home Amit Shah.
Kuldeep’s annual confidential report’s ranking was degraded. But Kuldeep challenged it before the central administrative tribunal which restored his ACR and also allowed him to go on deputation to the Centre.