Court rejects Natarajan's discharge petition

Ranchi, Nov 10 (UNI) A city court today dismissed the discharge petition, filed by suspended Jharkhand Inspector General of Police P S Natarajan, now in jail and an accused in the rape case of a tribal woman.

The court, however, granted him 15 days to ffile an appeal before Jharkhand High Court against the judgment.

Additional Judicial Commissioner Anil Kumar Chaudhary delivered the judgment as the argument on the discharge petition was completed yesterday, which was kept reserved.

Mr Anil Kumar Kanth, lawyer appearing on behalf of Natarajan, pleaded before the court that he would go for an appeal before the high court.

Framing of charges would be done once Jharkhand High Court passes order.

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

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

The woman later alleged that he forcibly had physical relation 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.

UNI XC-PRS SJC RL RAI1832