Tainted Haryana cop S.P.S. Rathore Thursday moved the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) here seeking the release of his pension that was withheld by the union home ministry in June.

Rathore, 69, who has been convicted of molesting teenager Ruchika Girhotra, which drove her to commit suicide, has been lodged in the Burail jail here since May 25.

In his plea to CAT, Rathore claimed that the incident of misconduct related to the discharge of his functions as the president of the Haryana Lawn Tennis Association (HLTA). Thus, the alleged grave misconduct is not related to the discharge of his official duties for which the he is entitled to get pension.

'The alleged act of misconduct has not resulted in any pecuniary loss to the central or state government,' said Rathore's plea.

The CAT has sought the home ministry's response to the plea. The next date of hearing is Oct 19.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court Wednesday dismissed an appeal filed by Rathore, who is a former Haryana police chief, against his conviction and sentence of 18 months' jail by a court here in the Ruchika molestation case.