Author: Navin Upadhyay
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: May 5, 2011
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/336508/IPS-Bhatt's-Notary-on-Teesta-NGO's-payroll.html
Gujarat has hundreds of Notaries, but when
it comes to choosing one, controversial IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt settled for
a man who has been notarising affidavits of social activist Teesta Setalvad
in post-Godhra riot cases against Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
On the face of it, there is nothing wrong
in handpicking any Notary. But inquiry by The Pioneer revealed that notary
Sadikhusen R Sheikh was on the payroll of Teesta. From 2006 onwards, Sheikh
was regularly paid Rs 7,500 per month salary from Teesta's NGO Citizens for
Justice and Peace (CJP).
The Notaries are appointed by the Government
and they charge a fee for notorising any document. However, it is very unusual
that they received monthly payment from anyone. The disclosure is significant
in the light of the fact that Teesta is facing a criminal inquiry for allegations
of manipulating the affidavits of the riot witnesses.
The cheques to Sheikh were sent by Teesta
from CJP bank account No. 01410000105705 of IDBI Bank branch at Dharni Nivas,
Plot No. 77, RK Mission Marg, Khar (W), Bombay. Teesta also made payment to
Sheikh from her other NGO's account "Centre for Education".
The payments were stopped for two months when
Teesta removed her close associate Rais Khan as chief coordinator of the CJP
in January 2008. Sources said Sheikh's payment was stopped under suspicion
that he was too close to Khan. But after two months, Sheikh's payment resumed
when he reportedly convinced Teesta that he shared no relationship with Khan.
Sheikh, who notarised the affidavit of Sanjiv
Bhatt, IPS, on 14/04/2011 (Sr. No. 631/2011) in which the IPS officer said
Modi wanted the Muslims to be taught a lesson, notarised several affidavits
for Teesta.
Before 2006, all affidavits filed by Teesta
were notarised by another Notary, YA Sheikh.
Sadikhusen R Sheikh also notarised the affidavit
filed by one Imtiyaz Khan Pathan on November 11, 2010 in the Supreme Court
against Rais Khan. Imityaz Khan had sought stay on an order of metropolitan
court, Ahmadabad, on a petition of Khan to examine him as witness in Nerula
gram riot case. Khan had alleged that many witnesses did not know the contents
of the affidavits sent to him by Teesta for notarising before these were filed
in the courts.
