Ruchika molestation case hearing now from May 3
April 16th, 2010 - 8:43 pm ICT by IANSChandigarh, April 16 (IANS) A local court Friday adjourned the hearing on former Haryana police chief S.P.S. Rathore’s plea, challenging his conviction for molesting teenager Ruchika Girhotra, to May 3 after hearing his lawyers’ arguments.
A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) plea for enhancement of Rathore’s sentence is also pending before the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Gurbir Singh.
The judge heard the arguments for over five hours before adjourning the matter to May 3, when the court will hear the case day to day.
However, like the last hearing Thursday, the entire media was directed to remain outside the courtroom on the request of Rathore’s counsel.
“Since Thursday, (Rathore’s wife and lawyer) Abha Rathore and another lawyer are putting forward their evidence and records before the court. So far there was no cross argument,” Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) lawyer C.S. Sharma told reporters.
“Now the court will take up the hearing continuously on day to day basis from May 3,” he added.
A special CBI court 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.
He was sentenced to six months’ rigorous imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs.1000. However, he was immediately granted bail.
Rathore, who came to the court amidst tight security cover, was accompanied by his wife and counsel, Abha Rathore.
Complainant Anand Parkash, his wife Madhu Parkash and their lawyer Pankaj Bhardwaj were also present inside the courtroom.
“Today (Friday) Abha Rathore read out the statements of Aradhana (the only eye-witness in this case) and S.C. Girhotra (father of Ruchika) before the judge. She wrongly tried to highlight the discrepancies in their statements,” Madhu Parkash told reporters after the hearing.
The court had earlier March 10 adjourned this case till April 15 after Rathore told the court that his counsel was recovering from an injury.
The case, to be heard Feb 8, was postponed by the court following a knife attack on Rathore and his lawyer by a student, Utsav Sharma.
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- Decision on Rathore, CBI's pleas in Ruchika case May 20 - May 11, 2010
- Court to hear Rathore's plea daily (Lead) - Jul 01, 2010
- Rathore's bail plea hearing adjourned till July 1 (Lead) - Jun 29, 2010
- Ex-top cop Rathore finally behind bars, gets 18 months jail (Roundup) - May 25, 2010
- Rathore gets 18 months jail term, arrested (Second Lead) - May 25, 2010
- Tainted cop Rathore's bail plea adjourned till June 29 (Second Lead) - Jun 04, 2010
- Court defers decision on Rathore's bail plea (Lead) - Jun 03, 2010
- Court hears Rathore's bail plea, decision Thursday (Lead) - Jun 02, 2010
- Hearing adjourned on Rathore plea till Friday - Jul 01, 2010
- Rathore's bail plea hearing deferred till Wednesday - Jun 01, 2010
- High court defers hearing in Rathore's case till Tuesday - May 31, 2010
- Court to decide on Rathore's appeal Thursday - May 20, 2010
- High court adjourns Rathore's bail plea hearing till Monday - May 28, 2010
- Rathore's bail plea hearing adjourned to July 1 - Jun 29, 2010
Tags: adjourning, anand, cbi court, central bureau of investigation, chandigarh, complainant, conviction, cou, courtroom, discrepancies, enhancement, eye witness, haryana police, local court, molestation case, plea, police chief, rathore, rigorous imprisonment, tight security