Now, everyone wants a look at videotapes of molestation trial

CHANDIGARH: The trial of Ruchika's molestation case that took nearly 10 years, 400 hearings and three courts to decide, has another aspect: it was not just in-camera but on-camera too. The entire trial was video-recorded and these tapes are most sought after. Chandigarh's district court has received a dozen-odd RTI applications seeking a record of these tapes.
The entire evidence includes a main 3,000-page file, judgement authorities, and some 100-odd tapes, out of which Chandigarh court has 26.While the evidence was sealed and is now strictly guarded, the RTI applications are pouring in from all quarters to get details, informed a senior court official, adding that the hunt for original documents was on. The judgment itself is a 97-page document.
The mundane looking dingy storeroom, adjacent to the court of special CBI magistrate, is under strict vigil these days. The room at present stores the trial court's record pertaining to the molestation case and is now being frequently visited by people who want to dig out official information.
Advocate T S Sudan, one such applicant said: "We too have applied under RTI to get a few documents from the trial court, so that we can help the Girhotra family get compensation."
Meanwhile, clearing the air about who can get the information, the district court officials said: "To obtain records, including tapes, the permission of high court is required. It is a sensitive issue and we cannot provide the information even under RTI without permission of higher authorities."