Chandigarh, June 3 (IANS) The Punjab and Haryana High Court Thursday deferred a decision on the bail plea of former Haryana Police chief S.P.S. Rathore, who has been convicted of molesting teenager Ruchika Girhotra in 1990. The verdict is expected Friday.

Rathore was sentenced to 18 months’ rigorous imprisonment by the district and sessions court here May 25. Following this, his wife and counsel Abha Rathore filed a bail petition and revision petition in the high court May 26.

All the arguments pertaining to this case were completed Wednesday and the high court’s vacation bench of Justice Ajay Tiwari reserved his decision Thursday. Court sources said the copy of order was not ready and, therefore, the judge deferred the decision.

However, complainant Madhu Parkash said she had full belief in the Indian judiciary and was ready to wait for another day.

‘There is nothing wrong if judge is taking his own time. Our case is very strong and we know that the final verdict will certainly come out in our favour,’ Parkash told IANS.

Rathore, the former Haryana director general of police, has been convicted of molesting Ruchika in 1990. She committed suicide three years late.

He was sent to Burail Jail here May 25 after the court upheld his conviction in the molestation case by a CBI special court in December last year and enhanced his jail term from six to 18 months.

Rathore was sentenced to six months’ rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs.1,000 by the CBI special court. He was immediately granted bail then. Rathore filed a plea in January challenging his conviction.