Court to decide on Rathore’s appeal Thursday
By IANSWednesday, May 19, 2010
CHANDIGARH - A court here will Thursday pronounce its decision on an appeal by former Haryana police chief S.P.S. Rathore challenging his conviction for molesting teenager Ruchika Girhotra, who later committed suicide.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Gurbir Singh heard the arguments of both sides on day-to-day basis for eight days.
“We are expecting maximum jail term for Rathore. He deserves no mercy from any quarter and we have full belief in the Indian judiciary,” Anand Parkash, main complainant in this case, told IANS Wednesday evening.
A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special court had held Rathore guilty in December last year of molesting 15-year-old Ruchika in Panchkula town in August 1990. She committed suicide three years later.
Anand’s wife Madhu Parkash said, “We are eagerly waiting for the court’s verdict and we are very optimistic about it. Rathore has used every means to prolong the proceedings of this case and to influence the eye-witnesses and police officials.”
The couple’s daughter Aradhana, who has now migrated to Australia, was the eyewitness in the case.
The probe agency’s plea for enhancement of Rathore’s sentence is also pending before the same court. Its decision will also be pronounced Thursday.
Rathore was sentenced to six months’ rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs. 1000. He was, however, immediately granted bail.
