Senior IPS officer Rahul Sharma has been accused of gross misconduct under Section 3(1) of All-India Service Rules, 1969 in the chargesheet filed against him. He has been accused of not submitting the CDs containing phone call records during the post-Godhra riots to respective investigating officers of the Naroda Gam, Naroda Patia and Gulberg Society cases.
According to the government, Mr Sharma’s conduct was unbecoming of an IPS officer as he did not submit the CDs even to his superiors when he was transferred from the post of DCP Control (Ahmedabad).
“Sharma has committed gross misconduct by taking away vital CDs from the case papers,” state government spokesperson Jaynarayan Vyas said.
Mr Vyas, who is also a minister, clarified that Mr Sharma has not been served showcase notice for deposing before courts and commissions looking into riot-related cases.
“It is not the case. In fact, it is the opposite. Because of his not giving the CDs to investigating officers or supervisory officer, he has caused serious infirmity to the riot cases investigations,” he alleged.
“Sharma served as deputy commissioner of police (control), Ahmedabad, from March 24, 2002 to July 3, 2002. He was not the investigating officer (IO) or direct supervisory officer
in the riot cases for which the compact disks were procured from cellphone service providers,” Mr Vyas said.
“Sharma, on receiving the said CDs, did not include the same as case property (muddamal).”
From the data obtained from the mobile service providers, Mr Sharma had prepared CDs detailing the calls made by important people in the state administration, including the ministers, police officials, and also VHP and Bajrang Dal activists during the communal violence.
Mr Sharma, currently posted as DIG (arms unit) at Rajkot, had later submitted the CDs to the Nanavati Commission, Banerjee Committee and Supreme Court-appointed SIT, who dealt with the Godhra train fire and subsequent riots in the BJP-ruled state.
Mr Sharma’s lawyer Mukul Sinha dubbed the charges against his client “absurd”. “The charge is that Sharma had taken away the CDs,” he said.