CBI court resumes hearing in Ruchika molestation case

Patiala, Sep 18 (UNI) The CBI special court here today resumed the case against Haryana former Director-General of Police SPS Rathore in which he has been alleged to have molested teenage tennis player, who later committed suicide.

The defense counsel, Ms Abha Rathore, today cross-examined Mr Rathore's predecessor and former DGP R R Singh, who had investigated the case during his tenure as the Haryana police chief and held Mr Rathore guilty.

Mr R R Singh said he had conducted the departmental inquiry againt Mr Rathore, who was then IG, and submitted his report on September 3, 1990.

Mr Singh said he had recorded the statements of victim Ruchika, her co-player Reemu and other persons including some personnel at the Panchkula police station where the case against Mr Rathore was lodged.

Mr Singh said that after conducting the probe, he concluded that Ruchika's statement against Rathore was based on facts.

He said he had submitted his seven-page probe report to the then Haryana Home Secretary on September 3, 1990 for registration of a case against Rathore.

The CBI is holding the trial against Rathore in the case in which a chargesheet has already been filed. The CBI has accused that Rathore allegedly molested the 14-year-old tennis player Ruchika Girothra on August 16, 1990 inside the Haryana Lawn Tennis Association premises, where he was the president of the sports body.

Ruchika had allegedly committed suicide on December 29, 1993 in the middle of the hearing of the case.

The CBI has produced 22 documents and list of 21 witnesses to establish the charge sheet. The court has fixed October 25 for the next hearing.

UNI XC PS JN VD BS1854