In a move that could have far-reaching consequences for Gujarat CM Narendra Modi, his trusted aide Amit Shah and the BJP, jailed former Gujarat ATS chief D.G. Vanzara on Tuesday resigned from the Indian Police Service.
The controversial IPS officer personally spearheaded some of the controversial encounters in Gujarat, ranging from Soharbuddin to Ishrat Jahan and Tulsi Prajapati. Mr Vanzara, under suspension, was jailed for one of these cases.
What could spell trouble for Mr Modi is that Mr Vanzara was at one time considered extremely close to him and to then state home minister Amit Shah.
In a 10-page resignation letter, Mr Vanzara launched a scathing attack on Mr Shah, and also questioned Mr Modi’s functioning, but just stopped short of saying that most of the controversial fake encounters were ordered by the Modi-Shah duo, which could perhaps have sealed their political fate.
Describing the Gujarat CM as his “god”, Mr Vanzara said all these years in jail he had kept “a graceful silence only because of my highest respect for Narendra Modi”. He then added: “But I am sorry to say my god did not rise to the occasion under the evil influence of Amit Shah, who usurped his eyes and ears.”