Court reserves judgment on Natarajan's discharge petition

Ranchi, Nov 9 (UNI) A city court today reserved its judgment on the discharge petition filed by suspended Jharkhand Inspector General of Police P S Natarajan, now in jail, in connection with alleged rape charge of a tribal woman.

Additional Judicial Commissioner Anil Kumar Chaudhary passed the order after hearing both the defence and the public prosecutor on the discharge petition.

The discharge petition was filed on November 8. Charges would be framed after the disposal of discharge petition. Natrajan was present in the court as per its earlier order.

Connsel for the accused, Anil Kumar Kanth, contended that Sushma Baraik alias Padma Devi, the victim, does not come under the Atrocity act.

On November 6, Natarajan, who had been absconding for more than a year, surrendered before a court here and was remanded in the judicial custody.

On July 31 last year, a private television channel had run a story showing the then IGP in a compromising state with a girl.

The woman later alleged that he forcibly had physical relations with her.

Natarajan immediately had gone underground.

Raids were conducted in several places in Uttar Pradesh,his home state and Bihar where his in-laws live.

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