SC defers interim bail application of S P S Rathore

Disgraced former Haryana DGP S P S Rathore will have to celebrate Diwali behind bars with the Supreme Court today deferring his interim bail plea till November 11 in the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case.

Disgraced former Haryana DGP S P S Rathore will have to celebrate Diwali behind bars with the Supreme Court on Wedenesday deferring his interim bail plea till November 11 in the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case.

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A bench of Justices P Sathasivam and B S Chauhan, however, clarified that it was not rejecting the bail application but was only deferring it and sought Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) response on the plea.

Rathore's counsel U U Lalit had pleaded to the court to release 68-year-old Rathore on interim bail so that he can celebrate Diwali with his family.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had on September 1 dismissed Rathore's appeal challenging his conviction and the sentence for molesting 14-year-old Ruchika two decades ago, saying his conduct as a top official was "shameful".

Justice Jatinder Chauhan had also dismissed a petition by Rathore, who is undergoing the sentence in high-security Burail Jail in Chandigarh since May 25, seeking release on probation.

The sessions court had earlier enhanced his six-month imprisonment awarded by a trial court in December last year to 18 months in jail on an appeal by CBI and Ruchika's family.

Ruchika, a budding tennis player, committed suicide three years after being molested by Rathore on August 12, 1990.