Rajasthan High Court on Friday transferred Jaipur district and sessions judge P C Jain,who is facing a vigilance inquiry for discharging BJP MLA Rajendra Rathore in the Dara Singh fake encounter case. Four other district judges were moved as well. All five have been directed to remain under Awaiting Posting Orders in Jaipur. Acting on allegations made by advocate Sumer Singh Ola,the high courts registrar (vigilance) has begun an inquiry into Jains order discharging Rathore. As a result,the trial of the other 16 accused in the Dara Singh case is now on hold. Ola told The Indian Express that he had written to the Chief Justice of the high court against Jains order discharging Rathore. Ola argued that in his 20 years as judge,Jain had never before discharged anyone accused of murder before the trial. Jain discharged Rathore on May 31,saying there was no prima facie evidence,and witnesses statements were unreliable. Those facing trial in the case include additional DG A K Jain and IGP A Ponnuchami. Both,along with 12 others,are in judicial custody. Two accused are on bail. While hearing a revision petition filed by the CBI and Dara Singhs wife Sushila Devi against Rathores discharge,the high court had on July 4 issued Rathore a notice asking why the lower courts order should not be set aside. He has to reply by July 10 . The state Special Operations Group gunned down Dara Singh in an encounter in Jaipur on October 23,2006. The police claimed they were attempting to arrest him when he fired at them and fled. The police allegedly chased him on foot and shot him.
