Chandigarh: Verdict on the plea of SPS Rathore in the Ruchika Girhotra molestationcase has been postponed till May 25. The disgraced former Haryana DGPhad appealed against a six-month sentence.
"This is nothing unusual. This has been a long drawn out case and these things happen," Ruchika's father S C Girhotra said.
The verdict was to have been delivered today, but the judge needed more time to write the order.
"We've already seen 450 adjournments. This delay is only for five days. The judge smilingly said he needed more time. We are not disappointed," said Anand Prakash, family friend of Girhotras.
On May 25, the court will give its order on Rathore's petition challenging his conviction in the molestation case and also on the CBI's petition seeking enhancement of sentence.
Rathore has been sentenced to six months in jail by the trial court.
"I'm confident he will be punished for two years. This will send out a very important message to society that people like Rathore cannot get away. The law will punish them," said Madhu Prakash, family friend of Girhotras.
ACentral Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special court had held Rathoreguilty in December last year of molesting 15-year-old Ruchika inPanchkula town in August 1990. She committed suicide three years later.
The CBI and relatives Ruchika Girhotra have also filed petitions before the court seeking enhancement of Rathore's sentence.
AdditionalDistrict and Sessions Judge Gurbir Singh had on May 11 fixed today'sdate for delivering the judgement afterconclusion of arguments and counter-arguments in the case.
The court heard the arguments, which began on May 3, on a day-to-day basis, till May 11 and the proceedings were held in-camera.
Thetainted former Haryana police Chief had sought setting aside the trialcourt verdict against him while the family of Ruchika and the CBI hadsought maximum punishment of two years for 68-year-old Rathore. (WithPTI Inputs)