High court denies Rathore interim bail

CHANDIGARH - The Punjab and Haryana High Court Tuesday did not allow interim bail to disgraced former Haryana state police chief S.P.S. Rathore and slated the hearing of his anticipatory bail for Jan 18.

While taking up Rathore plea for anticipatory bail and his petition to quash fresh cases registered against him, the high court asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file its reply in this case on Jan 18.

Justice Sabina, in whose court the petition was heard Tuesday, did not allow Rathore interim bail against arrest till the next hearing. Rathore was convicted last month by a CBI court here for molesting teenaged tennis player Ruchika Girhotra Aug 12, 1990, in Panchkula town.

This means that the CBI, which has taken over the case involving Rathore and re-registered three fresh first information reports (FIRs) against him Monday evening, can any time arrest the former Haryana director general of police (DGP).

CBI counsel told the high court that the investigation agency had taken over the case only Monday evening and needed to study the material before it states its opposition to Rathore’s plea for anticipatory bail and quashing of the new FIRs.

Appearing on Rathore’s behalf, his counsel and wife Abha Rathore sought anticipatory bail for him and the quashing of the three fresh FIRs, saying that these had been registered due to media pressure.

Meanwhile, the district and sessions court in Chandigarh Tuesday also admitted Rathore’s appeal against his conviction by a CBI special court here Dec 21 in the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case.

The case will now be heard Wednesday as Rathore did not appear before the court Tuesday, saying he was not well.