Haryana ex-DGP gets jail for molesting teenager

PTI

Chandigarh: Former Haryana director general of police S.P.S. Rathore was on MOnday held guilty of molesting a teenaged girl 19 years back by a court here which sentenced him to six months rigorous imprisonment.

CBI' special magistrate J.S. Sidhu also imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 on the accused who will have to further undergo one month of RI in case of default.

Ruchika,14, a tennis player, was molested by Rathore, the then inspector general of police in Haryana and president of Haryana Lawn Tennis Association, on August 12, 1990. She committed suicide in 1993.

At the time of pronouncement of verdict, Rathore and his advocate wife Abha Rathore were present in the court room.

Madhu Parkash, mother of Ruchika's friend, had approached the Punjab and Haryana High court in 1997, seeking a probe into the incident after a police report had stated that prima facie there was a case against Rathore.

Later, the investigation into the case was handed over to the CBI in 1998 and the trial was held in a Patiala court.

The case was transferred to the CBI special magistrate here by the Punjab and Haryana high court which had issued directions for holding day-to-day hearing and completion of trial within a month.

"I am elated that Rathore has been awarded six months of RI, but at the same time I am saddened that it took so long for the court to decide on the matter.

"Had the verdict against Rathore been pronounced earlier, I think Ruchika would not have committed suicide," Madhu said.