Zeenews Bureau
Panchkula: Expressing anger over the absence of even an iota of guilt in Rathore, Ruchika’s father on said that time has come for his daughter to get justice.
In a press conference, SC Girhotra, father of Ruchika who committed suicide 16 years ago after being molested and harassed by ex Haryana DGP SPS Rathore, expressed his anguish over the fact that despite fresh FIR being issued against Rathore, he is still at large.
“Had an FIR of this sort been issued against a common man, he would have been behind the bars now. But that Rathore has not yet been arrested reveals the intentions of the Haryana police,” he said.
Calling Rathore "a shameless man", he said that “the smile on his lips when he walked out of prison was enough to prove that he was neither remorseful of molesting a minor girl, nor regretful that she committed suicide because of him.”
“I am optimistic about the case now as CBI seems to be taking the right steps in right direction. I am also thankful to the Home Minister who has taken corrective measures”, he said.
Girhotra, however, rued that despite
revival of the charge under section 306 of the IPC, the
disgraced former top cop was yet to be taken into custody,
saying he felt the Haryana Police was still not serious in
arresting him.
Rathore booked for abetting Ruchika's suicide
The Haryana Police on Tuesday registered a fresh case against former police chief SPS Rathore , charging him with abetting the suicide of teenager Ruchika Girhotra three years after he had molested her.
Sources in the Haryana police have said that Rathore could be arrested anytime now.
The FIR has been lodged against the disgraced police official under section 306 of the IPC for abetment to suicide on the basis of a complaint filed by victim’s bother Ashu Girhotra three days back.
“An FIR has been registered against the former director general of police,” Panchkula Superintendent of Police Maneesh Chaudhary confirmed.
Meanwhile, the state government has also decided to transfer the Ruchika Girhotra molestation and suicide case to the CBI.
Ruchika’s brother has alleged in the FIR that Rathore forced his sister to commit suicide besides torturing him in police custody.
Rathore has also been booked in two other counts too, including the non-bailable charge of attempt to murder.
The fresh FIR comes soon after Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda pressed the Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the state police to probe the Ruchika molestation case, to submit its report as early as possible so that justice could be delivered to Ruchika’s family.
Yesterday, the Union government had recommended withdrawal of police medal given to Rathore and announced that any police officer convicted for "moral turpitude" or bringing "disrepute or disrespect" to the service will be stripped of awards.
"The Central Police Awards Committee (CPAC) has taken two primary decisions. The committee recommended to the President for the withdrawal of police medal given to former Haryana DGP S P S Rathore," Union Home Secretary Gopal K Pillai, who heads the committee, told reporters here.
The recommendation will now be sent to President Pratibha Patil. The former police chief, who was given a show-cause notice last week by the Home Ministry, was awarded the medal Aug 15, 1985.
The Centre has already recommended the state government to freeze Rathore's pension.
The central police awards committee gives the President's Police Medal for Gallantry, the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service and the Police Medal for Meritorious Service on recommendation from state governments.
The Centre’s recommendation came in the wake of a similar request made by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who called for the withdrawal of the police medal of Rathore who has been convicted in the Ruchika molestation case.
In a letter to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, Hooda had said Rathore has brought "disrepute and bad name" to the state and the police force.
The letter also mentioned "moral turpitude" on the part of Rathore in the case.
Ruchika committed suicide in 1993 by consuming a poisonous insecticide after her family was allegedly harassed for three years by Rathore.
Rathore was on Dec 21, 2009, sentenced to six months in jail and Rs.1,000 fine for Ruchika's molestation 19 years ago, evoking widespread protests over what people called a light punishment.
First Published: Tuesday, January 05, 2010, 23:34