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S.C. Rejects Gill's Review Petition in Bajaj Case

By STAFF

The Tribune, New Delhi, Sep. 22, 2005


Photo: K.P.S. Gill

The review petition of former Punjab D.G.P. and Indian Hockey Federation President K.P.S. Gill against the Supreme Court's verdict upholding his conviction in senior I.A.S. officer Rupan Deol Bajaj modesty outraging case, was dismissed by the apex court today.

A bench of Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice B.N. Srikrishna, which had upheld his conviction in its judgement on July 27, rejected his review petition, stating that there was no reason for interference in the final verdict.

Under the Supreme Court rules of procedure, the review petition is heard by the same bench which has passed the final judgement.

In the review petition, the court mainly examines whether any error of fact or law had occurred in the judgement.

Mr. Gill's conviction by two lower courts was upheld by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on August 20, 1998 but his sentence of three months' imprisonment was converted by it into probation with imposing on him certain conditions how he should behave in public and he was also restrained from drinking in parties.

Mr. Gill, in his review petition, had contended that there had been 'certain errors' of facts and 'wrong' application of law by the High Court, which were 'inadvertently overlooked' by the apex court as well, leading to the miscarriage of justice. But the apex court did not agree with his plea and dismissed it in a brief order.

Mr. Gill, right from the judicial magistrate's court to the apex court, was found guilty under Section 354 (outraging the modesty of a woman) and Section 509 (insulting a woman with words and gesture) of the I.P.C. for misbehaving with Ms. Bajaj at a party in the house of another senior officer 17 years ago when he was D.G.P., Punjab.