NEW DELHI, APRIL 29, 2025 — The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday rejected a bail application filed by former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Sanjiv Bhatt, who is serving a life sentence in a 1990 custodial death case.
A two-judge Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta declined to suspend Bhatt’s sentence. However, the Court directed that his appeal challenging the conviction will be heard on priority.
“We are not inclined to grant Sanjiv Bhatt bail. The prayer of bail is dismissed. The hearing of appeal shall not be affected. The hearing of appeal is expedited,” the Bench observed while delivering its order.
CASE BACKGROUND
The case dates back to October 1990, when Bhatt served as the Additional Superintendent of Police in Jamnagar district, Gujarat. Communal riots broke out following a Bharat Bandh called by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in protest of the arrest of then BJP President Lal Krishna Advani, who was undertaking a Rath Yatra for the Ram Mandir movement in Ayodhya.
Bhatt ordered the detention of 133 individuals under the now-repealed Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA). Among them was Prabhudas Vaishnani, who died shortly after being released on bail. His family alleged that he was subjected to custodial torture during his nine-day detention, leading to his death from renal failure.
In 1995, an FIR was registered and a local magistrate took cognisance of the case. A total of seven police officers were charged, including sub-inspectors and constables.
TRIAL AND CONVICTION
In 2019, a Sessions Court in Jamnagar convicted Bhatt and another police officer, sentencing both to life imprisonment for their involvement in Vaishnani’s custodial death.
Bhatt challenged the verdict before the Gujarat High Court, which dismissed his appeal in January 2024. He subsequently approached the Supreme Court, which issued notice to the State of Gujarat in August 2024. Following arguments, the top court reserved its verdict on Bhatt’s plea for suspension of sentence, which was pronounced today.
OTHER CASES INVOLVING SANJIV BHATT
Bhatt is also facing legal proceedings in two additional cases:
1996 Drug Planting Case: Convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison. His appeal is pending before the Gujarat High Court.
1997 Custodial Torture Case: Acquitted by a Magistrate court in December 2024.
WHAT’S NEXT?
With the Supreme Court rejecting Bhatt’s bail plea, he will remain in custody. However, his appeal against the life sentence will now be fast-tracked for hearing by the apex court.
