Chandigarh, January 13: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday issued notices to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Haryana government on the two anticipatory bail applications filed by former DGP S P S Rathore.
Yet again refusing to grant stay on the arrest of Rathore, the court of Justice Sabina issued notices in this regard.
Rathore had also filed a petition seeking quashing of the FIR registered against him under Section 306 (abetment to suicide) of the IPC. Justice Sabina issued notices in this regard to the CBI and the Haryana government. They have been directed to file their respective replies against the bail applications and petition.
The three petitions came up for hearing at 10 am but Rathore’s lawyer wife Abha Rathore requested that the matter be taken up at the end, as she would take “two hours to argue the cases”. The petitions came up for hearing after lunch.
After lunch, Abha stuck to her argument against media that it had launched a campaign against her husband.
The counsel for CBI Anmol Rattan Sidhu, on the other hand, sought time to file response to Rathore’s petitions.
Advocate General, Haryana, Hawa Singh Hooda, Panchkula SP Maneesh Chaudhary, Assistant Solicitor General of India Dr Anmol Rattan Singh Sidhu and Ruchika family’s counsel Pankaj Bhardwaj were present.
To a pointed query by the court as to whether Rathore’s arrest was required by the CBI, Sidhu said, “The agency is yet to make a start. It will reach the city tomorrow. Three FIRs were registered against Rathore by the CBI yesterday (Monday) night. Rathore had unleashed a reign of terror against Ruchika’s family.”
In response, Abha said, “It is a reign of terror unleashed against Rathore. Since December 26, we are surrounded by the media. I am ready to argue all the cases, please grant stay on the petitioner’s (Rathore) arrest.”
Abha further claimed that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) had recorded statements of all witnesses and accused. “Nothing has come up against the petitioner till now. If the SIT shows any incriminating evidence against him, he will face any consequences,” she said.
Refusing to grant stay, Justice Sabina issued notices regarding interim relief in the three petitions. The case will come up for resumed hearing on January 18.
Rathore’s counsel also requested the HC to direct the CBI to bring the status report on the next date of hearing.
20-member CBI team to arrive today
A Special Crime Branch (Unit I) team of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will arrive in Panchkula on Wednesday to investigate the fresh cases filed against former DGP S P S Rathore. The team is headed by DIG (CBI) Satish Golcha
An advance team of the CBI, comprising Additional SP (CBI) Rajender Chikara and Inspector PM Sevda, met Panchkula SP Maneesh Choudhary on Tuesday. Chikara, who is the liaison officer, also met the head of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) IG Shatrujit Singh Kapoor. The team was in the SP’s office for around five hours.
“The advance two-member team of the CBI met IG Shatrujit Singh. The entire record pertaining to the three FIRs registered against Rathore has been handed over to the CBI officials,” a senior police official said.
—Agencies