In a fresh legal setback, the Haridwar police have formally registered a criminal case against expelled former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Suresh Rathore. The action, taken on Saturday, follows a direct court order and revolves around allegations that Rathore failed to return a borrowed car and subsequently threatened its owner.
Details of the Car Dispute and FIR
The complaint was filed by a local contractor identified as Rajesh Kumar Gautam. According to police officials, Gautam stated that he had handed over his car to the former MLA last year in good faith. However, Rathore allegedly took the vehicle away and did not return it. When Gautam pursued the matter, Rathore is accused of threatening him with dire consequences.
Acting on the court's directive, the Jawalapur police station lodged a First Information Report (FIR). SHO Kundan Singh Rana confirmed the development. The case has been registered under specific sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which replaced the Indian Penal Code. The charges include:
- BNS Section 361 (2) for criminal breach of trust.
- BNS Section 351 (2) for criminal intimidation.
- BNS Section 352 for intentional insult.
Ongoing Legal Troubles for the Former MLA
This is not the first FIR registered against Suresh Rathore at the Jawalapur police station. He is already embroiled in the high-profile Rishikesh resort murder case, where a 19-year-old receptionist was killed. In that investigation, Rathore had managed to secure a stay on his arrest from the high court.
Adding another layer to his legal woes, Rathore was reportedly questioned for approximately six hours on Friday by a Special Investigation Team (SIT). This interrogation was related to a separate audio clip case. The controversial audio recordings were recently leaked by Urmila Sanawar, who claims to be Rathore's second wife. In these clips, the former MLA purportedly mentions the name of a national BJP leader, referring to him as the 'VIP' who had visited the resort before the murder.
Mounting Pressure and Judicial Scrutiny
The new FIR in Haridwar signifies increasing judicial and police scrutiny of the expelled leader's activities. The case, stemming from a seemingly straightforward civil dispute over a car, has now taken a serious criminal turn with charges of breach of trust and threats. It highlights the ongoing investigations surrounding Rathore, connecting personal allegations to the broader, more grave resort murder probe. The police are now expected to proceed with their investigation based on the fresh FIR and the court's order.
