Ruchika case: Rathore's counsel concludes arguments

Former Haryana top cop SPS Rathore's counsel today concluded her arguments before a local court hearing three pleas relating to the conviction of the ex-DGP for molesting teenager Ruchika Girhotra.

"Rathore's counsel concluded her rebuttal arguments after the CBI on Saturday argued on presentation of evidence before the court," Ruchika's family lawyer Pankaj Bhardwaj told reporters here.

Rathore, 68, awarded six-month imprisonment by a CBI court for molesting the girl, had challenged his conviction before a Sessions court.

The CBI and relatives of budding tennis player Ruchika, who later committed suicide, had also filed petitions seeking enhancement of sentence for Rathore. 

Additional district sessions Judge Gurbir Singh is hearing the three pleas on a day-to-day basis. The proceedings are held in-camera. 

The CBI had sought maximum punishment of two years for Rathore, said Bhardwaj who will argue before the sessions
court tomorrow.

Rathore's counsel had completed their arguments last Thursday.

Anand Parkash, father of Aradhna, the sole witness in the molestation incident, was present in the court. 

The former DGP was sentenced to six-month imprisonment
on December 21 last by CBI Judge JS Sidhu for molesting
Ruchika at Panchkula in Haryana on August 12, 1990.

Three years after her molestation Ruchika had committed
suicide.