Modi permitted 2002 Gujarat riots and framed Sanjiv Bhatt?

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MisleadingTrick: Picks only some facts

Checked 17 Oct 2026

Former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt and former minister Haren Pandya alleged that Narendra Modi instructed top police officials to allow Hindu mobs to vent their anger on Muslims following the Godhra train burning incident. However, these claims are misleading because they omit the findings of the Supreme Court and the Special Investigation Team (SIT). Investigators cleared the administration of these charges, finding the allegations to be false and concluding that neither Bhatt nor Pandya were even present at the law and order review meeting in question.

Main source: Sabrangindia

Real video, twisted story. Reel by @tanmayorates

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The Reel we checked

@tanmayorates

Godhra Kaand & Sabarmati Express Tragedy, Who was held responsible for the heinous crime, Who is IPS Sanjeev Bhatt? Let’s explore.

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⚖️ Where the case stands

✅ Established

Cleared by investigators: "जांच में पता चला कि ये लोग तो लॉ एंड ऑर्डर की समीक्षा के लिए बुलाई गई उस मीटिंग में थे ही नहीं." Aaj Tak, 2022-06-24

🗣️ Alleged

Sanjiv Bhatt and Haren Pandya: "Bhatt claimed that at this meeting Modi allegedly instructed top police officials to allow Hindu mobs to vent their anger on Muslims" Sabrangindia, 2019-06-20
Prabhudas Madhavji Vaishnani's brother: "Vaishnani’s brother alleged custodial torture leading to an FIR being filed in the case." Sabrangindia, 2019-06-20

🚩 Red flags

Lapse: "The Supreme Court in its verdict had rapped all three [Teesta Setalvad, RB Sreekumar, Sanjiv Bhatt] for falsifying evidence." India Today, 2022-06-25

❓ Still open

Acquitted, or cleared without charges, means not proven. It is not a finding that it didn't happen.
No court has ruled on the allegations above in any source we found.

The trick: Picks only some facts

It shows the facts that fit and leaves out those that don't (known as cherry-picking).

"संजीव भट्ट ने 2011 में Supreme Court में एक affidavit file करा जिसमें उन्होंने यह mention करा है कि मोदी ने सभी police officials को हटने के लिए बोला है और कहा था कि हिंदुओं को अपना गुस्सा निकालने दो।"

The Reel presents Bhatt and Pandya's allegations as the definitive truth about the 2002 riots, ignoring that the Supreme Court and SIT investigated these exact claims and found them to be fabricated.

How this trick works and how to answer it →

What we checked

✓

IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court in 2011 alleging Narendra Modi instructed police officials to allow Hindus to vent anger.Sabrangindia

✓

Babu Bajrangi said Narendra Modi changed judges and arranged settings to release him from jail.Wikipedia

✓

In November 2007, former Gujarat minister Haren Pandya reportedly stated in Outlook Magazine that Narendra Modi instructed officials not to intervene in the 2002 riots.The Wire

✓

Official figures state that about 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus were killed in the 2002 Gujarat riots.Times of India

✓

Sanjiv Bhatt was sacked from the IPS service in 2015 and sentenced to life imprisonment by a Gujarat court in 2019 in a 1990 case.Wikipedia

✓

On 27 February 2002, coaches of the Sabarmati Express were set on fire in Gujarat, killing 59 people.Hindustan Times

🧩 Connected

The same claim was checked in another Reel (@rantingjiji, 2026-10-01): "59 people died when a train coach was set on fire in Godhra on 27 February 2002.", found not confirmed (see it)

What the Reel doesn't tell you

The Supreme Court noted that the testimonies of Sanjiv Bhatt and Haren Pandya were false and aimed at sensationalizing the matter.

What each side says

Narendra Modi and Gujarat GovernmentThe state administration and investigative bodies maintained that allegations of official complicity or orchestration of the 2002 riots were false and politically motivated fabrications. India Today

IPS Sanjiv BhattBhatt maintained that as an intelligence officer present at high-level meetings, he was privy to instructions given by the chief minister allowing rioters a free hand, and that he was victimized for e The Hindu

How it plays you

It wants you to think: "State authorities intentionally allowed anti-Muslim violence and systematically punished whistleblowers who exposed them."

The Supreme Court and SIT investigated these specific claims and found them false, establishing that neither Bhatt nor Pandya was present at the February 27 meeting.

Causal oversimplification: "सोचो फिर 2015 में संजीव भट्ट के साथ क्या हुआ होगा। उन्हें IPS के पद से हटा दिया जाता है...". It links Bhatt's service removal and 2019 conviction in a 1990 custodial death case entirely to political retaliation, ignoring the court evidence and trial behind the verdict.
Loaded language: "गोधरा कांड जानबूझकर होने दिया गया". It uses a definitive, conspiratorial phrase right at the start to shape how the viewer interprets the subsequent legal details.

Short version

⚠️ MISLEADING 👉 Former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt and former minister Haren Pandya alleged that Narendra Modi instructed top police officials to allow Hindu mobs to vent their anger on Muslims following the Godhra train burning incident. 👉 However, these claims are misleading because they omit the findings of the Supreme Court and the Special Investigation Team (SIT). 👉 Investigators cleared the administration of these charges, finding the allegations to be false and concluding that neither Bhatt nor Pandya were even present at the law and order review meeting in question. 🚩 The Supreme Court rapped Sanjiv Bhatt, RB Sreekumar, and Teesta Setalvad for falsifying evidence and conspiring to abuse the process of law (India Today) 🎭 Trick: Picks only some facts 📰 Sources: Aaj Tak, India Today 🔎 Full check: send this Reel to @checkthis.chat

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