Cornered,Gafoor set to tell govt he should not have said what he did

Although Gafoor had subsequently said the remarks were not correct,the four officers had threatened legal action against him,forcing state Home Minister R R Patil to direct Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Chandra Iyengar to probe the controversy.

Gafoor was served an informal notice asking him to explain the interview within 10 days. The deadline ended on December 5 and Iyengar told The Indian Express that Gafoor was yet to get back.

But sources close to Gafoor said he was in the process of sending his explanation and also that he had decided not to contest the interview. He,however,plans to convey what he feels are crucial facts regarding the circumstances and understanding with which he made the comments. The sources said Gafoor had already spoken to Patil and verbally explained his side of the story. Gafoor is also believed to have told Patil that he was a “victim” in the fiasco and that he had been constantly targeted by certain quarters.

Gafoor was indicted by the Ram Pradhan Committee that probed the police response to the attack. He was promoted and moved from the post of Mumbai Police Commissioner to Managing Director of the Police Welfare and Housing Corporation. The committee report faulted Gafoor for not taking charge of the situation and displaying visible leadership.

A 1974 batch officer,Gafoor was the Mumbai Police chief for 16 months. As one of the senior-most officers in the state,he is also in contention for the post of Maharashtra DGP,but the controversy is thought to have seriously dented his chances. Patil himself had to resign in the face of the public outrage over his comments on 26/11,but has got back the Home portfolio in the new government.