Later, a delegation of senior Congress leaders met DGP Vikas Sahay in his chamber and submitted a memorandum accusing Pandian of “absolutely unacceptable, improper and deplorable behaviour”.The delegation demanded the senior IPS officer’s immediate termination/suspension and an “unconditional apology to the Dalits of Gujarat and India”.Talking to PTI, Pandian denied the allegations levelled against him, calling them “baseless,” and claimed the state police give due importance to the welfare and safety of weaker sections of society, including Dalits and tribals.Mevani was not the first public representative to visit him in his chamber, noted the IPS officer.”None of those who came to meet me in my chamber have ever complained that they were insulted or made to wait outside,” Pandian insisted.”When (Mevani) came to meet me on October 15, I called him immediately inside without any delay by letting others wait. Instead of talking about the issue (of land encroachment), he started shouting in the chamber, saying ‘why I did not go outside to receive him and not follow protocols’,” he said.The IPS officer said the opposition party legislator put his mobile phone on his office table with its voice recorder on, which he objected to as unacceptable behaviour.”Upon this, he (Mevani) started shouting. I asked him how I can attend to his grievance in a situation like this. I told him, ‘Either you do it properly or I will not give you time, you can approach a senior officer,'” said the Additional DGP.”Mevani’s allegations that we are not sensitive towards SC/ST communities are baseless. Let me tell you clearly — we give utmost importance to the welfare, safety and security of weaker section of society, including SC/ST communities,” Pandian claimed.”Whenever there is any incident regarding SC/STs, we analyse them and write to the concerned CPs (Commissioners of Police) and SPs (Superintendent of Police) and address their grievances immediately,” he said.According to Mevani, when he went to meet Pandian in his office, the IPS officer “insulted” him and did not adhere to protocols required to be followed to receive a public representative.The MLA claimed the police officer made him leave his mobile phone outside his chamber.The same day (October 15), Mevani sent a letter to assembly speaker Shankar Chaudhary, alleging the IPS officer insulted him when he went to meet him in his office.During the meeting, Pandian allegedly got agitated and asked his staff to take the mobile phones (of Mevani and Pithadiya), claiming they may be recording their conversation in the chamber.
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