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The '''Rupan Deol Bajaj case''' or '''Rupan Deol Bajaj vs KPS Gill case''' was one of the most publicized, high-profile legal cases in [[India]] and remained in the media limelight for many years.

In this high-profile case, [[KPS Gill]], at the time [[Director General of Police]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], was held guilty of the charges of molestation. On 20 August 1988, the [[Punjab and Haryana High Court|High Court of Punjab and Haryana]] upheld Gill's conviction under Section 354 (outraging the modesty of a woman) and Section 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult a lady) for his action against Rupan Deol Bajaj .<ref name=a>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120922084014/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-07-27/india/27846624_1_conviction-rupan-deol-bajaj-k-p-s-gill SC upholds conviction of Gill in Rupan Deol case]</ref> Rupan Deol Bajaj was at that time an officer of the [[Indian Administrative Service]] (I.A.S) belonging to the Punjab Cadre. She filed a complaint against KPS Gill, saying that he had molested her modesty by patting her posterior during a party hosted on 18 July 1988 at the Chandigarh residence of then Punjab Financial Commissioner, S L Kapoor.<ref name=b>[http://indiankanoon.org/doc/579822/ Mrs. Rupan Deol Bajaj & Anr vs Kanwar Pal Singh Gill & Anr on 12 October, 1995]</ref> She was at that time working as the Special Secretary, Finance, as an I.A.S. officer.<ref>{{cite news|title=Brought Down A Peg|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/brought-down-a-peg/200051|accessdate=9 August 2016|date=25 October 1995}}</ref>

Her husband Mr. B.R. Bajaj, was a senior I.A.S. officer of the Punjab Cadre, had filed a complaint in the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate for the same offenses, described above against KPS Gill and was a party to the case.<ref name=b/>

==Trial and sentencing==

In 2005, the [[Supreme Court of India]] upheld the charges and conviction of KPS Gill for the offense. He was spared from undergoing the three-month jail sentence as it was converted into probation by Punjab and Haryana High Court.<ref name=Tribune/> KPS Gill was sentenced to pay a fine of Rs 200,000, be imprisoned rigorously for 3 months and simply for 2 months, and finally to serve 3 years of probation.<ref name=Tribune>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050728/main5.htm SC holds Gill guilty in Rupan Deol Bajaj case]</ref> Rupan Deol Bajaj declined to accept the monetary compensation. The court ordered that it be donated to women's organizations.<ref name=Tribune/> After final appeals before the [[Supreme Court of India]] in July 2005 the conviction was upheld and the jail sentences were reduced to probation.<ref name=a/><ref name=Tribune/><ref>[http://www.hindu.com/fline/fl1502/15021340.htm ]</ref>

==Media reaction==
Rupan Deol Bajaj was highly praised in the media for both filing a case against such a powerful officer of police and for refusing to be intimidated.<ref>[http://www.chowk.com/Views/Hero-as-Molester Hero as Molester: It is a victory of the indomitable spirit of Ms Rupan Deol Bajaj who refused to get cowed down by the awe-inspiring Supercop. One can say without any exaggeration that it is a significant step forward for the women’s movement also which has consistently fought for violence against women in all its forms.]</ref>

In 2010, after the Government's decision to strip police officers convicted of 'moral turpitude' of medals and awards, she demanded that the Government take back the [[Padma Shri]] award given to KPS Gill. She wanted the Government to move against Gill in the same manner as it was proceeding against ex-Haryana top cop [[SPS Rathore]], to strip him of his police medal in the aftermath of the [[Ruchika Girhotra Case|Ruchika Girhotra molestation case]].<ref>[http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/general-discussion/28790-rupan-deol-bajaj-demands-government-take.html Former Punjab bureaucrat Rupan Deol Bajaj demands to take back Gill's Padma Shri]</ref><ref>[http://www.indianexpress.com/news/exias-officer-rupan-bajaj-wants-gills-padm/563707/ Ex-IAS officer Rupan Bajaj wants Gill's Padma Shri taken back]</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bajaj, Rupan Deol}}
[[Category:Violence against women in India]]
[[Category:Police misconduct in India]]
[[Category:1988 in India]]
[[Category:2005 in India]]
[[Category:Indian case law]]

Rupan Deol Bajaj case - Revision history

imported>Bergwalt at 05:28, 12 May 2021