Ruchika molestation case: Rathore gets interim bail

In a reprieve for disgraced former Haryana DGP SPS Rathore,the Punjab and Haryana HC granted him interim bail in two fresh FIRs.

In a reprieve for disgraced former Haryana DGP SPS Rathore,the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday granted him interim bail in two fresh FIRs levelling serious criminal charges against him in the Ruchika molestation case.

Justice Sabina referred to a division bench the bail plea of 68-year-old Rathore in the third FIR accusing him of abetment to suicide under section 306 IPC as an important question of law was involved.

The judge also directed the CBI to give Rathore,who was last month awarded six months of jail term for molesting budding tennis player Ruchika Girhotra in 1990,four days notice if it wanted to arrest or interrogate him in connection with the third FIR.

Hearing on Rathore’s two petitions seeking anticipatory bail in the first two FIRs registered on the complaints of Ruchika’s father Subhash Chander Girhotra and brother Ashu levelling serious criminal charges including attempt to murder and forging of documents has been adjourned to February 15.

Amidst strong protests from the aggrieved universities on the Government’s decision,the apex court assured them that it would not pass any adverse order without hearing them as the issue not only involved several institutions but also two lakh students.

It further directed the Union Government to place on record the reports of the Review Committee and the Task Force on the basis of which the Human Resource Development Ministry had decided to crack the whip on the 44 universities.

It also asked the UGC to place its earlier report on the basis of which the Ministry had accorded deemed status to these institutions.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram