Congress MLA claims threat to life from IPS officer: Hold him responsible if…

Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani on Wednesday wrote to Union Minister Amit Shah seeking immediate suspension of IPS officer Rajkumar Pandian, whom he accused of threatening his life. In the letter, Mevani said that the IPS officer should be held responsible if anything happened to him or his family.
“If I, any of my family members, or any of my team members are murdered like Baba Siddique, then only and only IPS officer Rajkumar Pandian will be responsible. The entire state of Gujarat knows the character of this officer, who has served seven years in prison for a fake encounter case. No matter what happens, I will never stop fighting for the dignity and self-respect of Dalits, backward classes, and Bahujans in Gujarat and the country,” he posted on X.
In his letter to Amit Shah, the Vadgam (Gujarat) leader claimed that Pandian, the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) for SC/ST, misbehaved with him during a recent meeting on October 15 to discuss the issue of illegal encroachment on Dalit land in Kutch district.
“It is with deep and justified pain, displeasure and regret that I, Jignesh Mevani, MLA of Vadgam, present the facts concerning the absolutely unacceptable, improper and deplorable behaviour of Rajkumar Pandian, ADGP – SC, ST (Ahmedabad Police), when I went to make a representation on behalf and in favour of the Dalits of Gujarat against the illegal encroachment of land allocated to them,” Mevani wrote in his letter.
Soon after entering his cabin, Pandian allegedly asked Mevani and another Dalit leader, Hitendra Pithadiya, who is Gujarat Congress’s SC department chairman, to keep their mobile phones outside the chamber.
“Pandian got agitated and asked his staff to take the mobile phones claiming they (Mevani and Pithadiya) might be recording the conversation using their phones. I told him we are ready to keep our mobile phones outside, but such behaviour with an MLA is not appropriate,” Mevani stated in his letter to the Home Minister.
Mevani also claimed that Pandian responded to him with anger, abruptly ending the meeting and refusing future appointments.
“I will not entertain you in the future; you will not be permitted to enter my office,” Mevani quoted Pandian as saying during the meeting.
The Congress leader also claimed that Pandian made derogatory comments about his attire, specifically pointing out that he was wearing a T-shirt to the meeting.
“He even commented on my attire, saying ‘Why are you wearing a T-shirt despite being an MLA?’,” claimed Mevani.
“I am convinced that such a bureaucrat occupying an office of such importance would always fail to serve the people, particularly the most marginal, namely Dalits. I therefore pray that, in order to retain the sancity and credibility of the Offices of the Police Department, you kindly, as requested above, give necessary instructions to the concerned authorities to move to terminate/suspend Rajkumar Pandian with immediate effect,” the letter concluded.