The Uttarakhand High Court has stepped in to provide temporary protection to former legislator Suresh Rathore, putting a hold on his arrest in connection with multiple police cases. These cases are related to audio and video clips that he allegedly circulated on social media platforms, which are connected to the high-profile Rishikesh resort murder case.
Court Issues Notices, Halts Arrest
On Tuesday, a single-judge bench of Justice Ashish Naithani granted this interim relief to Rathore. The court has also issued formal notices to the state government and the complainants in the matter. The complainants are Dharmendra Kumar from Haridwar and former zila panchayat member Aarti Gaur from Yamkeshwar. The court has scheduled the next hearing in this case for March 24.
Multiple FIRs Across Two Districts
The legal trouble for Rathore stems from several First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against him in police stations across two districts. In Haridwar district, cases have been filed at the Bahadrabad and Jhabrera police stations. Within Dehradun district, FIRs are lodged at the Nehru Colony and Dalanwala police stations.
According to the complaint at Bahadrabad police station, Dharmendra Kumar has alleged that Rathore, along with a woman named Urmila Sanawar who claims to be his wife, released damaging videos and audio clips on Facebook and other platforms. The FIR claims the intent was to tarnish the image of BJP's state in-charge, Dushyant Gautam.
Rathore's Defense and Legal Challenge
In a separate FIR registered at Nehru Colony police station in Dehradun, Aarti Gaur, Dushyant Gautam, and another individual named Sanchit Kumar have accused Rathore and Sanawar of similar offences. Facing these allegations, the former MLA has moved the High Court to challenge the validity of the FIRs.
Rathore's petition argues that the allegations against him are completely baseless and without merit. He has sought the quashing of the FIRs alongside the plea for protection from arrest. The court's order to stay his arrest provides him temporary relief while it examines the merits of his petition.
