Pawar, who is now ADGP (Police Training and Research Institute), told The Indian Express late on Wednesday that there was no substance in the allegation that Rawat’s seniors had conspired to eliminate him. Pawar admitted that Rawat died of a .9 mm bullet but said the commission does not say the pistol belonged to a policeman. “Why should we kill one of our own PSIs,” he asked when his reaction was sought to the commission’s indictment. He claimed he had raised Rs 10 lakh for Rawat’s family by deducting money from policemen’s salaries.

He claimed that the encounter with Jat took place in Gohata village in Rajasthan and a case had been registered in this regard with the Kishanganj Police Station. The commission has found Pawar’s role suspicious because Rawat was included in the operation by revoking his suspension; Sharma was included in the operation though he belonged to the village defence committee; and as IG he did not take action against his erring juniors.

Pawar defended himself saying Rawat was included because the operation was based on his information.