Ruchika molestation case to be revisited: Hooda

NEW DELHI - Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda Saturday said his government would “revisit” the 1990 case of teenager Ruchika Girhotra, who was molested by former top cop S.P.S. Rathore and commited suicide three years later.

“As far as I am concerned we will revisit the case. I have full sympathy for the family,” Hooda told reporters here.

The chief minister said that the police has been directed to provide security to Ruchika’s family.

“I have already asked the DGP (Director General of Police) to provide security to her (Ruchika’s) family,” said Hooda.

Earlier in the day, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) MP Brinda Karat met Hooda and demanded harsher punishment for Rathore.

After meeting Hooda, Karat said: “We want the state government to be proactive in getting the punishment enhanced (for Rathore) and reopen the case.”

Fourteen-year-old Ruchika was molested Aug 12, 1990 by Rathore, who rose to become Haryana’s police chief. The girl committed suicide three years later. A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special court Monday convicted Rathore in the molestation case and sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs.1,000. Rathore was immediately granted bail by the court.

During the course of the over 19-year legal battle, Ruchika’s family was harassed with false cases being slapped against her brother.

Karat was accompanied by the parents of Ruchika’s friend Aradhana, who was the lone witness in the case.

“We also demanded that under his jurisdiction a committee (be set up) which would go into the political patronage given to Rathore and how he got so many promotions.

“There are two aspects of the case - one is criminal and the other is political. Action should be taken against those who shielded Rathore and also his bail should be cancelled and he should be sent to jail,” Karat added.