Rathore seeks bail,protection from media

In her 40-page petition,she alleged that her husband was facing a “trial by the media” and sought protection of the court.

The judge said the court was unable to grant any relief since the petitioner was not even aware of the Sections under which he has been booked. Replying to this,Abha said that she did not have copies of the complaints filed on Tuesday and that it was only through newspapers that the petitioner got to know about the FIR No. 573 and 574,dated December 29,2009.

Asked if she had copies of these FIRs,Abha said: “We came to know of the FIRs through the media. We want protection of this court in view of the media trial and distortion of facts.” She wanted tome to collect “vital” documents and the judge gave her until January 1 to file an amended appeal.

Abha Rathore said that S P S Rathore was already absolved of charges under Section 306 by the apex court and the case pertaining to Section 305 was also decided long ago. She produced a written statement by the Haryana government that the DGP had been harassed and hence should be given compensation.

She said the state itself had said that Rathore had no role to play in the FIRs filed against Ashu. “Lodging FIRs and keeping him in custody at the petitioner’s behest was not possible since he (Rathore) was posted with the Home Guards at that time and not in the city,” she said.

On the charges levelled by brother Ashu against Rathore under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of Indian Penal Code,in the complaint lodged yesterday,Abha said the family had not mentioned this in the last 19 years.

“The Girhotras never appeared for any hearing in any court and now after 19 years,they have accused Rathore of attempt to murder,” she said.

During the arguments that lasted for 10 minutes,Abha criticised the media. “Instead of discharging its duties in a responsible manner,the media has made a propaganda,which,in turn,has abrogated the judicial system,” she argued.

She said that the press was also an accused party which was using every means to defeat the cause of justice. “There are editors sitting in newsrooms passing judgments on the case,behaving like saviours of law and gaining mileage out of the entire episode,” she said. Calling it trial by media,she said that it was mob rule and the FIRs were registered as the media mounted pressure on the police.

“Without waiting for us to file our appeal against the lower court’s judgment convicting Rathore,the deadline for which is January 4,2010,the media already started the trial,” she said.

Meanwhile,a Special Investigation Team (SIT) will investigate the two new FIRs registered against Rathore,as per orders of DGP Haryana Ranjiv Dalal.

The SIT will be headed by Inspector General of Police S S Kapoor and will include Superintendent of Police (Panchkula) Manish Chaudhary; Deputy Superintendents of Police (Panchkula) Samiti Chaudhary and Varinder Singh; Inspectors Aman Kumar,Tarsem Lal and Laxmi Devi.

Rathore has been booked in two cases on the basis of two complaints lodged with the Panchkula police yesterday. While one complaint has been filed against Rathore by Ruchika’s father S C Girhotra; the other complaint has been filed by Ashu Girhotra,Ruchika’s brother,who,in his complaint,has accused him of attempt to murder.

Ruchika’s family’s allegations that Rathore manipulated the post-mortem report and forced them to sell their house at throwaway prices will also be looked into by the SIT.