The Congress on Saturday targeted the BJP government in Gujarat for defending retired police officers N.K. Amin and Tarun Barot, who resigned after the Supreme Court asked the state to take a call on their fate or else it would decide.
Both Amin and Barot had been re-employed on contract by the Gujarat government after their retirement.
Both, facing criminal cases involving alleged fake encounters, had on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that they will quit during the day itself.
"They did not resign. Actually, they were forced by the Supreme Court to resign after having completed a substantial part of their term," senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said at a press conference here while targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party.
"This shows that the entire approach is that you be with me, carry out my illegal orders, and we will reward you. This shows a lack of fear, an utter and complete disrespect for law and constitutional norms, an utter absence of shame, and clearly an arrogance of power that is unprecedented," he said.
"Amin tried to favour his political masters by planning or trying to at least abduct an MLA ahead of the August 8 Gujarat Rajya Sabha elections."
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The Congress leader said his party has filed a formal complaint against Amin with the Election Commission, which is on record.
While Amin was serving as Superintendent of Police at Tapi, Barot was appointed as Deputy Superintendent of Police (Headquarters), Western Railway, Vadodra.
Amin was acquitted in a case of killing of Kausar Bi, the wife of Sohrabuddin Sheikh, and disposal of his body. Sohrabuddin was killed in an alleged gunfight with Gujarat Police. Barot is an accused in the Ishrat Jahan encounter case.
The Gujarat government had on Wednesday described Amin as an "outstanding" officer while defending his re-appointment on contract for one year.
Singhvi said Amin spent eight years in jail but was still given contractual appointment in August 2016 after retirement.
--IANS
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