Ex-IPS Officer Sanjeev Bhatt NDPS Case: Gets Sentence to 20 years of hard labour, Along with a fine of 2 Lakhs

In a judicial saga that has captured national attention, former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Sanjeev Bhatt has been sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 2 lakh in connection with the 1996 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) case. 

This landmark verdict, delivered by the Second Additional Sessions Court of Palanpur, Gujarat, marks a significant chapter in Bhatt’s tumultuous legal journey.

#UPDATE | The Second Additional Sessions Court of Palanpur sentenced former IPS Officer Sanjiv Bhatt to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 2 lakhs, in the 1996 NDPS case of Palanapur https://t.co/IjhiIqq2Ai

— ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2024

The origins of this case trace back to 1996 when Bhatt was serving as the Superintendent of Police in Banaskantha district, Gujarat. 

During a police operation, narcotics were seized from a hotel room in Palanpur, leading to the arrest of a Rajasthan-based lawyer who was also lodging in the same premises. Bhatt, in his official capacity, asserted that the lawyer, Sumer Singh Rajpurohit, was complicit in the drug-related activities.

However, the plot thickened as the case unfolded. The Rajasthan Police later alleged that Bhatt and his team coerced Rajpurohit into participating in a fabricated drug case as a means to settle a property dispute. These allegations, coupled with mounting legal scrutiny, propelled the case into the spotlight, igniting debates about law enforcement practices and accountability.

In 2018, Bhatt’s legal woes intensified when he was apprehended in connection with the NDPS case, which eventually culminated in his recent conviction. The court’s ruling not only underscores the gravity of the charges but also raises pertinent questions about the integrity of law enforcement agencies and the need for judicial oversight.

Moreover, Bhatt’s legal entanglements extend beyond the NDPS case. In a separate incident, he was sentenced to life imprisonment in a custodial death case dating back to the 1990s. This adds another layer of complexity to his legal predicament, highlighting the multifaceted nature of his legal battles and their broader implications for India’s criminal justice system.