Ahmedabad

Suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, has been sacked on the ground of unauthorised absence from service. “

Yes, it is true that my services have been terminated. This was expected. They have been conducting a completely ex-parte inquiry. I got the letter (sack order) from them (the Home ministry),” Bhatt told PTI this evening.

Gujarat Chief Secretary G R Aloria confirmed the development.

“Services of Sanjiv Bhatt have been terminated,” he said.

Bhatt, a 1988 batch IPS officer, was under suspension since 2011 for unauthorised absence from service.

The government’s move also comes two days after he was served a notice on the basis of a controversial video. In the 11-minute video clip, a person purported to be Mr Bhatt was seen with an unknown woman.

The state government said forensic tests had supported the complaint that Mr Bhatt was in an illicit relationship with a woman other than his wife. The notice also said such conduct was unbecoming of an Indian Police Service officer and was in breach of service rules.

Mr Bhatt, who had denied that he was the man in the video clip, said he was ready to undergo a “detailed biometric examination” to prove it.