Disgraced ex-Haryana DGP SPS Rathore was today jailed after he was arrested for the first time shortly after a sessions court enhanced his prison term to 18 months for molesting teenager Ruchika Girhotra-who later committed suicide-20 years back.
Pronouncing the verdict in a packed court room, Additional District and Sessions Judge Gurbir Singh dismissed the appeal filed by 68-year-old Rathore challenging the six month rigorous imprisonment after he was convicted in the molestation of the 14-year-old budding tennis player.
The CBI and Ruchika's family had also filed petitions seeking enhancement of the sentence to maximum two years.
Rathore, who has been stripped of President's Police medal after his conviction, was taken into custody by the CBI within the court premises itself after he did not move out after the pronouncement of the enhanced sentence.
Though the pronouncement was made at 2.15 pm, he kept sitting in the court room with his wife and counsel Abha moving an application seeking a copy of the judgment.
The court directed that Rathore be taken to the local Burail Jail immediately following dismissal of his appeal and enhancement of the sentence after which he was taken into custody by the CBI.
After the sentencing, Rathore looked grim and his smirk missing but put up a brave face telling reporters, "I will keep smiling".
The CBI personnel took him out of the court premises at about 3.20 pm and headed for the Burail Jail in a white Tavera vehicle.
He entered the Jail through its massive iron gate at about 3.35 pm and in all likelihood will spend the night there.
His wife Abha was not present when Rathore entered the jail as she stayed behind in the District Courts.
Welcoming the verdict, Ruchika's father SC Girhotra said, "We are satisfied (with the Court's verdict) as justice has been delivered."
However, Girhotra said the battle against Rathore would continue till abetment to suicide charge against him is proved. "We will continue to fight till he is charged under section 306 of IPC," he said.
The former top cop was sentenced to six months' rigorous imprisonment on December 21 last year by CBI Judge J S Sidhu for molesting Ruchika in Panchkula on August 12, 1990.
Three years after the incident, Ruchika committed suicide by consuming poison.
The quantum of sentence had sparked an outrage in the country.
Rathore had sought setting aside the trial court verdict against him while Ruchika's family and the CBI had pleaded for enhancement of punishment to the maximum of two years provided in the law.
The court directed the jail superintendent to provide proper medical care to Rathore, if required, following an application by his lawyer-wife Abha that he was a heart patient and required care.
The court allowed Rathore's plea for getting himself examined at the cardiac care department of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER).
After the sentencing, Rathore looked grim, his face sans its usual wide grin, but he told reporters, "I will keep smiling".
The former DGP was sentenced to six months' rigorous imprisonment on December 21 last year by CBI Judge J S Sidhu for molesting Ruchika, a budding tennis player, in Panchkula on August 12, 1990.
Three years after the incident, Ruchika committed suicide.
The quantum of sentence had sparked an outrage in the country. Rathore was later stripped of his President's Police Medal.
Rathore had sought setting aside the trial court verdict against him while Ruchika's family and the CBI had pleaded for enhancement of punishment to the maximum of two years provided in the law.
The court directed the jail superintendent to provide proper medical care to Rathore, if required, following an application by his lawyer-wife Abha that he was a heart patient and required care.
The court allowed Rathore's plea for getting himself examined at the cardiac care department of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER).
