Court to hear Rathore’s plea daily
By IANSThursday, July 1, 2010
CHANDIGARH - The Punjab and Haryana High Court Thursday decided to hold daily hearings on the bail plea and revision petition of disgraced former Haryana police chief S.P.S Rathore, convicted for molesting teenager Ruchika Girhotra in 1990.
While adjourning the hearing till Friday, the court said the case will be heard for one hour everyday.
Rathore, 68, was sentenced to 18 months rigorous imprisonment by the district and sessions court of Chandigarh for molesting Ruchika, who later committed suicide. He is currently lodged in the high-security Burail jail here since May 25.
On Thursday, Rathore’s wife and counsel Abha Rathore presented various facts, pertaining to this case, before Justice Jitendra Chauhan.
She also raised questions on the revision petition that was filed by Madhu Parkash in the district and sessions court of Chandigarh.
Madhu Parkash is the wife of Anand Parkash, the main complainant, and the mother of Aradhana, Ruchika’s friend and lone eye-witness in this case.
While arguing in the court, Abha said: “Madhu Parkash is neither the complainant nor the victim in this case. She not even belonged to the aggrieved family, therefore, her revision plea was baseless and we want the court to reconsider it.”
However, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) lawyer said that they were well-prepared to counter the arguments of Rathore.
“Rathore’s counsel has started submitting the facts before the court. But we are well prepared to oppose it. We have all proofs and evidence with us. The case has been adjourned till tomorrow (July 2),” Ajay Kaushik, the CBI lawyer, told IANS.
Rathore, the former Haryana director general of police, was sent to jail May 25 after the court upheld his conviction in the molestation case by a CBI special court in December last year and enhanced his jail term to 18 months.
He was sentenced to six months rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs.1,000 by the CBI special court. He was immediately granted bail then. Following this, Madhu Parkash filed a revision plea in the district court and Rathore also filed a plea in January challenging his conviction.
