Ruchika’s molestation predetermined, says CBI

CHANDIGARH: In a twist to the Ruchika molestation case, the CBI, in an appeal to a local court on Thursday, said the disgraced former Haryana DGP, SPS Rathore, did not act on the spur of the moment, and that his action was pre-determined.
Claiming that Rathore had unleashed a reign of terror on the witnesses, CBI requested the court to enhance his sentence. On December 21 last year, special CBI magistrate J S Sidhu had sentenced Rathore to six months imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 under Section 354 (outraging modesty of a girl).
Stating that the molestation was predetermined, CBI said Rathore deserved the maximum punishment. ‘‘The offence was pre-determined. The act of molestation of Ruchika was not on the spur of the moment but pre-planned. After the submission of memorandum by the victim, the respondent (Rathore) unleashed a reign of terror on probable witnesses in order to refrain themselves from pursuing the matter further,’’ it said in its appeal.
‘‘The sentence awarded to respondent (Rathore) is grossly inadequate and requires to be enhanced to the maximum extent provided under Section 354 of IPC. Justice demands that the court impose a punishment befitting the crime. It should act as a deterrent on potential wrong doers,’’ it stated.
CBI had, on January 13, said it would move court for enhancing Rathore’s sentence. On Thursday, it presented a 124-page document including the appeal, the trial court judgment and a detailed time-sheet about the progress of the trial proceedings from August 21, 1998 (when the case was marked to CBI) to December 21, 2009 (when the verdict was out). The appeal’s copy, which was signed by CBI SP, New Delhi, S P Klair, mentioned 16 points as major grounds of appeal. Stating that Ruchika was a minor while Rathore was a high-ranking police officer of Haryana when the ‘‘ugly’’ incident occurred, the agency said: ‘‘It was the duty of IGP to protect the vulnerable citizen but he himself committed molestation of a minor girl.’’
It also shot down the age factor in case of Rathore, which was taken into consideration by the trial court while it awarded the sentence to him.