Ruchika’s family assured of justice by home minister

NEW DELHI - The father of Ruchika Girhotra said after meeting Home Minister P. Chidambaram Wednesday that he was hopeful of getting justice following fresh charges against former Haryana police chief S.P.S. Rathore whose molestation apparently led his daughter to commit suicide.

Describing his meeting with Chidambaram at the latter’s office here as “satisfactory”, Subhash Chander Girhotra told reporters: “I am satisfied with the meeting. He (Chidambaram) gave me a patient hearing.”

The meeting came a day after the government decided to act afresh against Rathore, who has been convicted of molesting 15-year-old Ruchika in 1990.

The family says he should be charged with abetment to suicide.

“I am hopeful we will get justice,” said Girhotra, who was accompanied by his lawyer Pankaj Bhardwaj.

The young Ruchika committed suicide three years in 1993 after she and her family faced continuous harassment at the hands of police.

The ministry called Girhotra and his lawyer to New Delhi to discuss how to pursue the case.

“We discussed (with the minister) how to re-open the case. We are hopeful of justice,” the lawyer said.

He said Chidambaram knew the facts of the case and “we have put forward our point of view. I have given him some ideas as there are many ways to reopen the case”.

Asked when the case was likely to be reopened, Bhardwaj said the home minister would talk to his officials and “maybe we will be called again”.

The 67-year-old Rathore, who faces arrest, was Wednesday refused interim bail by a court in Haryana.

Rathore was Tuesday evening booked by police in two cases of serious and non-bailable criminal charges including attempt to murder, criminal intimidation, forging evidence, wrongful confinement, fabricating false evidence and criminal conspiracy.

Girhotra demanded death penalty for Rathore. “He has killed my daughter by misusing his official position. We want the death penalty for him.”