Rathore stabbed by youth outside court

CHANDIGARH: Former Haryana DGP SPS Rathore was stabbed thrice in the face by a youth with a knife that left him bleeding outside a local court hearing his appeal in the Ruchika molestation case.

68-year-old Rathore was stabbed by the youth identified as Utsav Sharma, a resident of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, in the left cheek. A bleeding Rathore covered the wound with a handkerchief before getting into his car.

While the youth, who was pursuing a course in film production in Ahmedabad, used his left hand to stab the former IPS officer, he delivered punches with his right hand on Rathore's right cheek.

He also attempted to attack the former DGP on the arm, but the police personnel present there overpowered him and nailed him down as he tried to run in the midst of a commotion outside the court.

The youth was standing among media persons and said to be pretending to take pictures of Rathore. The reporters were waiting to talk to him and others after the court proceedings which were held in-camera.

Rathore was taken to Sector 16 Government General Hospital, police sources said.

The youth has been taken to the nearby Sector 17 Police Station.

Rathore was completely taken by surprise by the sudden attack. His lawyer-wife Abha was following him.

Aradhana condemns attack

Aradhana, the sole eye witness to Ruchika Girhotra’s molestation, has strongly condemned the attack on former Haryana DGP SPS Rathore outside a district court here. She asked people to desist from taking law into their hands.

"I strongly condemn the attack. For 19-and-a-half years, we have always been doing things inside the law. So, I would request the people, if they are getting outraged, please stay in law and we should wait for the judiciary to take its action and no body should take law in his hands," she said.

"It is really not appreciated. It seems like an act of public outrage because they are aware of this case and obviously, still Rathore is not being punished. So, yes it is just because of that, may be," she said.