CHANDIGARH: J.F, Ribicro, former Adviser to the Punjab Governor, corroborated the facts contained in his note to the then Governor, S.S. Ray, pertaining to the incident about the alleged “our raging of modesty” of Rupan by the former police chief, KPS Gill.
He said that she wanted strict action against Gill, in which included an adverse remark in his confidential report and to shelve the proposal of awarding him a Padma Shree. He said she had even cited the example of former Chief Secretary, Punjab, I.C. Puri, who was strictly dealt with for misbehaving with the wife of a junior IAS officer.
While identifying the handwriting and signatures on the original copy of his note produced before him in the court, he said that he had sent this note to the Governor on the morning of July 20, He further said that one week after sending this note, he had summoned Gill on the insistence of the then Governor, S.S. Ray, and had asked him to apologize to Rupan Bajaj, and claimed that he had agreed. He tried to contact Rupan also on the phone, but she declined to come for such an apology and wanted the Governor to mediate.
He admitted that though he was not present at the party, he had only narrated the facts provided by Rupan. During his cross examination, Aloke Sen Gupta, counsel for the accused, admitted that he had no material or any other proof to show that he had summoned Gill in his office and that he had agreed to apologize.
He failed to recollect if he had prepared any other record, besides the note about the incident. He deposed that he had tried to contact the Governor before sending the note, but could not do so since he was not in town. He said that though he had the facility to contact Ray, but he did not do so as the matter was not of such urgency.
To another question, he said it was his own comment that Gill used to attend parties without his wife and his statement that Gill was not steady on his feet was on the basis of information given to him by S.L. Kapur and Runpan Bajaj. He stated that the recommendations with regard to the apology mentioned in the note were his own. Regarding the usage of the phrase ‘extract an apology,” he denied that it was used to force Gill to give such an undertaking and clarified that the use of the term was ‘unfortunate,’ He said he had no written material in support of his comments.
He admitted that there were me differences in their certain, important issues, but clarified that he had never complained against Gill and that both had cordial relations, He further stated that he had recommended Gill’s name to succeed him as Director General of Punjab Police, He denied that he had sent an adverse report regarding Gill’s alleged involvement in the case to damage his career.
He denied the suggestion of the defence counsel that in sending the report to the Governor, he acted in an undue haste only with a view to fulfill his promise made to Rupan and to grind his own axe, He said that he did not act in utter violation of principles of natural justice in sending his report to the Governor.
Ribeiro said that he did speak to the Governor on July 28, 1988, and had informed him about Gill’s visit to his Office and his consent for the apology and also told him about Rupan’s refusal to come.
He refused the suggestion that no written report was sent to the Governor by him as Gill never attended his office for an apology. He admitted that it was possible to contact Gill within a short time in any of the districts of Punjab and though he did tell his staff to contact him, but they were unable to do so, He went on to say that Gill never left the particulars of his movement before leaving Chandigarh with the control room or his staff.
He further denied that when the Governor did not take any action after July 27, 1988, he had advised Rupan to lodge an FIR.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 1, 1996
