Another case gains voice in Rajasthan
The conviction of former Haryana DGP S P S Rathore in the Ruchika molestation case has raked up a 12-year-old molestation case in Rajasthan. The accused, former DIG Madhukar Tandon, accused of sexually assaulting a tribal woman is absconding since 1997 despite a standing warrant against him.
The tribal woman’s molestation case had created ripples during the then BJP regime led by Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. Later when Congress came to power, Tandon was suspended in January 2003.
Protest
The Dausa MP Dr Kirori Lal Meena staged a protest outside Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s residence on Tuesday along with his supporters, the victim and her husband, demanding a CBI probe in the inordinate delay in arresting the offending senior cop.
Madhukar Tandon had allegedly molested the victim, wife of his orderly at his home in Noida, who was forced to quit his job in 2001.
Tandon was on leave when the case of rape and sexual exploitation was filed against him but was allegedly informed before an arrest warrant was issued to give him enough time to go into hiding.
Renewal
In what is seen as one of the most embarrassing cases for Rajasthan police, Home Minister Shanti Dhariwal has reportedly assured of renewing the case. The ADG (crime) Kanhaiya Lal did admit that Tandon was a “proclaimed offender” against whom a charge sheet was filed by the Rajasthan police but he is still at large. The state police department also came under a cloud when Bitti Mohanti, son of Orissa DG B B Mohanti, convicted for seven years’ rigorous imprisonment for raping a German researcher in Alwar jumped parole in 2008.
The Rajasthan police are still clueless about Bitti who was given parole between November 20 to December 6, 2008.
The only recent success, which the Rajasthan police can claim as a face-saving exercise, is the arrest of the absconding guest house owner from Udaipur, who was convicted of raping a British tourist in 2007.
He was arrested from Gujarat in October this year.
