Fresh FIRs against Rathore, including attempt to murder

PANCHKULA - The Haryana police Tuesday registered two fresh First Information Reports (FIRs) against disgraced former top cop S.P.S. Rathore, including for attempt to murder and wrongful confinement, in the 19-year-old Ruchika Girhotra molestation case.

The FIRs were also filed against other police officials.

Rathore, former Haryana director general of police (DGP), has been charged with serious crimes like attempt to murder (Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code), criminal intimidation (506), wrongful confinement (340) and criminal conspiracy (120-B).

Three other junior police officers have also been booked, Panchkula superintendent of police Maneesh Chaudhary said.

Chaudhary did not rule out the arrest of Rathore and others since the sections imposed are non-bailable.

We have registered two FIRs against the former DGP and other police officers on the basis of two complaints received today. Most of the sections are non-bailable. We will investigate the matter and make arrests accordingly, Chaudhary told IANS.

The other police officials named in the FIR include assistant sub-inspector Jai Narain, sub-inspector Prem Dutt and ASI Sewa Singh. The FIR talks of some unnamed other persons also.

Rathore has also been charged with fabricating evidence (195), preparing false evidence (191), preparing incorrect documents (167), public servant disobeying law (166), wrongful confinement to extort confession (348), using assault or criminal force in order to wrongfully confine person (357) and other sections of the IPC.

Two fresh police complaints, seeking registration of a case against Rathore and other police officers were submitted to the Panchkula police Tuesday afternoon.

Rathore, who retired in 2002, is also a resident of Panchkula.

Anand Prakash, father of Ruchika’s friend Aradhana, and his lawyer Pankaj Bhardwaj submitted these complaints on behalf of S.C. Girhotra, father of Ruchika, and Ashu, her brother.

Rathore was sentenced by a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court Dec 21 to six months in jail for molesting 14-year-old Ruchika 19 years ago on Aug 12, 1990. A fine of Rs.1,000 was also imposed on Rathore. He was, however, immediately granted bail.

Ruchika, a budding tennis player, committed suicide three years after the incident due to harassment by Rathore to make her withdraw her complaint against him.