Chidambaram ‘very unhappy’ with handling of Ruchika case

NEW DELHI - Home Minister P. Chidambaram Thursday said he was very unhappy with the way that the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case had been handled over the last 19 years.

I am unhappy with the way charges have been framed, the trial has been conducted and the accused (Rathore) punished (in the Ruchika case). I am very unhappy, Chidambaram told reporters while presenting his ministry’s monthly progress report.

Refusing to comment on the legalities, the home minister said: I will look into what the central government can do in this case.

The remarks come a day after Ruchika’s father Wednesday met Chidambaram following fresh charges against former Haryana police chief S.P.S. Rathore. In 1990, Rathore molested the 15-year-old who committed suicide three years later.

Rathore was last week given a six-month jail sentence and Rs.1,000 fine as punishment.

Following the uproar, sources in the home ministry said there was a possibility of filing a third first information report (FIR) against Rathore for abetment to suicide, and that the home minister sought documents from the Girhotras and their counsel.

The home minister is learnt to have discussed the matter separately with Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials as well.

Two FIRs were registered against Rathore Tuesday under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including attempting to murder Ruchika’s brother Ashu and torturing and booking him in “false” cases.

Ruchika’s family and lawyer met me yesterday (Wednesday). They have filed two fresh FIRs (against Rathore). One for Ashu’s (Ruchika’s brother) harassment and another for destroying evidences. They said they will file another FIR on abetment of suicide and they have promised me that they will send me a copy of the (third) FIR, Chidambaram said.

I will react only when I get the FIR. he added.

The home minister justified issuing show cause notices to Rathore asking why his meritorious police medal should not be revoked and pension stopped.

We reacted after the conviction. What the home secretary (G.K. Pillai) did was right, he said.

After Ruchika, a budding tennis player, and her friends complained to the Haryana government about the molestation, Rathore allegedly harassed her brother and family, using his position as a senior police officer.

Ruchika’s family says the punishment was too light in view of the gravity of the crime. Massive public outrage has forced the government to act afresh against Rathore.