The Hindu : Front Page : Court rejects appeal, Rathore sent to jail

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Wednesday, May 26, 2010
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Court rejects appeal, Rathore sent to jail

Vrinda Sharma

CHANDIGARH: A sessions court here on Tuesday rejected S.P.S. Rathore's appeal against his conviction in the case of molestation of a 14-year-old-tennis player (who subsequently committed suicide) and enhanced the sentence for the former Haryana DGP from six months rigorous imprisonment to 18 months.

Rathore was immediately arrested by the CBI and lodged in the Burail jail.

As soon as additional district and sessions judge Gurbir Singh pronounced the verdict in the packed courtroom, Rathore's wife and counsel Abha pleaded that he be taken to hospital first. “He has been unwell for few days, he has mild chest pain, giddiness and hypertension and he has an appointment with the doctor at 4 p.m.,” she said. While CBI counsel C.S. Sharma requested the judge not to pay attention to the delaying tactics, Rathore said, “I was to have been admitted on Monday [itself] but I said that I should go to the court first.” The court directed the jail superintendent to provide him proper medicare, if required, following an application by his lawyer-wife. The court allowed Rathore's plea for getting himself examined in the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh.

Despite the judge's assurance that the jail superintendent would ensure that proper medical attention was provided to him, Rathore refused to leave the courtroom demanding a copy of the judgment. After an hour, the judge returned to the courtroom to clarify that under the Cr.PC, a convict could not demand a copy of the judgment then and there, and his lawyer would have to apply to get a certified copy for an appeal later.

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