Message against misuse of power: Moily

The government on Tuesday said the 18-month jail sentence for former Haryana police chief SPS Rathore would put fear in minds of those who misuse power, but tougher laws are required to tackle sex-related crimes.

The government on Tuesday said the 18-month jail sentence for former Haryana police chief SPS Rathore would put fear in minds of those who misuse power, but tougher laws are required to tackle sex-related crimes.

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Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily said Rathore, whose duty was to protect people as a senior police officer, tried to break the law in a worst manner, and so deserved such treatment.

“The enhanced punishment handed down to Rathore would send a clear-cut message that use of power and authority to commit a crime will not go unpunished,” Moily said.

“The punishment would drive fear in the minds of the people that if they commit such a crime, they will meet the same fate,” the minister said.

On the need for tougher laws to deal with sexual offences, Moily said, “The present law needs to be toughened and new law will speed up cases and give tougher punishment.”

He said the long delay in punishing Rathore was unfortunate. “In the future we want to overcome this as delays helps the accused to win over witnesses and the evidence also disappears,” the minister remarked.

The government is considering making molestation a non-bailable, cognisable offence in which the accused can be arrested based on a complaint.

The draft of the proposed Sexual Crimes (Special Courts) Bill, 2010 proposes this.

Presently, a person accused of molestation under Section 354 of the IPC can be granted bail easily, since the maximum punishment stipulated is two years.

Rathore was found guilty under this section. According to the proposed new law, an accused cannot be released on bail unless the public prosecutor is given a chance to oppose the bail plea.