RATHORE'S BAIL PLEA REJECTED

A Panchkula Court, in Harayana dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of former state police chief SPS Rathore, who molested Ruchika Girhotra, 19 years ago, leaving it open for the state police to arrest the accused at any time. Additional District and Sessions Judge Sanjeev Jindal dismissed the bail plea filed by Rathore after two fresh First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered against Rathore on December 29. Rathore was booked under non-bailable charges like attempt to murder, criminal intimidation, forging evidence, wrongful confinement, fabricating false evidence and criminal conspiracy. The court also rejected the anticipatory bail plea of another Harayana police official, Sewa Singh, a sub-inspector posted at Pinjore near Panchkula, who is also accused of implicating Ruchika’s brother Ashu in false cases of car theft, allegedly at Rathore’s behest. “I am happy and hope that justice will be done. We want the accused arrested immediately,” Ruchika’s friend Aradhana, who fought the case against Rathore for over 19 years, said after the bail plea was rejected. She alleged that state officials had already been supporting Rathore in the past and that she did not have much faith in the state machinery to take action against him.