Hearing adjourned again,as CBI needs more time to probe

Much to the benefit of Rathore,the CBI on Monday again sought four weeks’ time to investigate the case,leading to the Punjab and Haryana High Court adjourning hearing on the two FIRs filed against the former DGP.

Now,Rathore,guilty of molesting Ruchika Girhotra,will not be arrested till July 19,the next date of hearing.

Despite examining over 70 witnesses in the case,the CBI maintained that it is at an “advanced stage” of the investigation. So far,the anticipatory bail applications filed by Rathore have been adjourned half a dozen times,with the CBI being a mute spectator.

On Monday,the case was adjourned by Justice Sabina after the CBI counsel did not protest against the stay on Rathore’s arrest.

Except making two statements that Rathore has “prima facie committed offences which are non-bailable in nature” and that he had “unleashed a reign of terror against Ruchika’s family”,the CBI so far has only sought time to “further investigate” the case.

CBI’s response in the case so far
On January 11,the CBI had registered three FIRs against Rathore. On the same day,Rathore had moved the High Court,demanding anticipatory bail.

On January 12,the High Court issued notices to the CBI on the two anticipatory bail applications. On the same day,Assistant Solicitor General of India and CBI counsel Anmol Rattan Singh Sidhu made a statement that “Rathore had unleashed a reign of terror against Ruchika’s family”.

On January 18,CBI termed Rathore’s apprehension of arrest as “unfounded and baseless”. On this very day,the CBI had opposed the bail in a written reply,stating that if Rathore was granted bail he might tamper the evidence or influence the witnesses.

On January 25,Justice Sabina stayed Rathore’s arrest in two FIRs registered against him on charges of attempt to murder and forgery till February 15. Also,the HC directed the CBI to issue four days prior notice to Rathore in case he was needed to be arrested in the abetment to suicide case (third FIR).

Surprisingly,on the next date of hearing (February 15),the CBI didn’t even protest against the stay on Rathore’s arrest and sought adjournment in the case.

All that the CBI maintained on February 15 was that the agency is “still investigating”. As a result,Rathore’s arrest was stayed till April 5.

On Monday,the CBI again sought four weeks time to “further investigate the case”. Accepting the request,the HC adjourned the case till July 19.