M A I N   N E W S

SPS Rathore retires
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 31
Former Director-General of Haryana Police, S.P.S. Rathore retired from service today. An IPS officer of the 1965 batch, Mr Rathore remained on leave from December, 2000, to January, 2002, following his indictment by the CBI in the infamous Ruchika molestation case. The CBI had investigated the case following the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which were upheld by the Supreme Court.

The day the special court for CBI cases in Ambala took cognizance of the charges against Mr Rathore, he proceeded on leave on December 6, 2000. The CBI had preferred charges against him under Section 354 (molestation), IPC. However, the complainant, Mrs Madhu Prakash, moved an application before the trial court for invoking Section 306 (abetment to suicide), IPC, also against him. It may be recalled that Ruchika had allegedly committed suicide following the harassment of her family by Mr Rathore.

The trial court accepted Mrs Prakash’s plea. However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court turned down the trial court’s decision. The trial against Mr Rathore is pending in the Ambala court.

Mr Rathore was posted as Chairman of the Haryana Police Corporation early this month after awaiting posting orders for about seven months. At the same time the state government issued his retirement orders so that the department could work out his retirement benefits.