Former Haryana DGP S.P.S. Rathore’s counsel wife Abha, who has challenged his conviction in the molestation case, on Monday questioned why the victim and her friend remained “silent” about the incident for three days.
As the day-to-day hearing on the revision petition resumed on Monday in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Ms. Abha contended that the lower court had not dealt properly with the issue of “late” reaction of the victim.
Rathore is lodged in high security Burail jail since May 25 after being sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment for molesting a 14-year-old on August 12, 1990. Rathore was then the president of Haryana Lawn Tennis Association in Panchkula.
The teenager committed suicide three years after the incident.
“What should have been the reaction of the girls (the victim and her friend Aradhna after the incident). There was no reaction from the girls until 7 pm of August 14. If any ugly incident is happening, a person reacts simultaneously and you don’t need reaction time,” Ms. Abha told the court
Ms. Abha said the appellate court had not dealt properly with the question of the girls taking so long to speak up.
Justice Jitendra Chauhan heard arguments for about an hour before adjourning the case till Tuesday.
