Ahmedabad, Oct. 3 (PTI): Suspended IPS officer Sanjeev Bhatt today moved a bail plea before a local court which issued notice to the Gujarat government even as his wife told Union home minister P. Chidambaram that his safety should be ensured.

Sessions Court Judge V.K. Vyas fixed for tomorrow the hearing on the plea by the suspended IPS officer, who contended his arrest was politically motivated.

Bhatt was arrested last Friday on the basis of the FIR filed against him by police constable K.D. Pant for allegedly threatening and forcing him to sign a false affidavit with regard to a meeting called by chief minister Narendra Modi on February 27, 2002, hours after the Godhra train carnage.

In his bail application, Bhatt submitted he was falsely implicated with an ulterior motive at the behest of some political functionaries and senior police officers.

The suspended IPS officer claimed Pant appeared to be acting following “diktats” from political members of the state government.

According to Bhatt’s plea, his arrest was aimed at getting hold of the alleged evidence he had against Modi with regard to the 2002 communal riots, and destroying them. In her letter to Chidambaram, Bhatt’s wife Shweta said: “Sanjiv has strong apprehension of being physically ill-treated and danger to his life. We are in potential danger from a vindictive administration.”

“My husband has been victimised and arrested merely because a few politicians apprehended serious action against them because of the evidence Sanjiv is likely to give in the pending criminal cases,” Shweta further said.

“I want the central government to ensure safety of my husband and his dignity should also be restored,” she told reporters after she dashed off the letter.