MUMBAI, November 18: The Mumbai police today faced the ire of the Justice S D Gundewar Commission for writing two different timings of the same incident in the First Information Report and in an affidavit, as wee as for some other bloopers in the courtroom.

Justice Gundewar is inquiring into the desecration of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's statue, subsequent violence and police firing in which ten Dalits were killed on July 11, 1997 at Ghatkopar. The commission is currently cross-examining head constable Gajanan Katalkar, who was in charge of the police chowky near the statue on the day. In his affidavit, Katalkar had said Dr Harish Ahire, a local resident, informed him about the desecration at around 6.30 am.

Today, it was revealed that the FIR, prepared after Katalkar's version, states that Ahire told him about the desecration at 6.45 am. In his affidavit, Katalkar had also stated that he immediately went near the statue and Ahire had opposed his removing the garland. However, Katalkar today said Ahire had gone home at 6.40 am and he went there searching for him. This was not mentioned by Katalkar in his affidavit or supplementary statement. A visibly agitated Gundewar also commented, ``You have stated different timings in your affidavit and your submission before the commission right now. Are you lying to the commission?'' Although Katalkar replied in negative, the difference in timings remains.

Katalkar, with two other constables at the chowky, Rathod and Jawle, were suspended on July 14 for negligence in duty. Yesterday, Justice Gundewar had ordered that a copy of Katalkar's suspension order be produced. But the copy the police produced today was that of Rathod's suspension.

When rebuked by Gundewar, Katalkar, who was in the witness box for deposition, immediately ran out of the witness box to search for the copy. He was further pulled up for leaving without the judge's permission.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.