Ruchika case: Rathore launches 'vicious' smear campaign

Posted : January 07 2010

Even as the Panchkula sessions court adjourned former Haryana DGP SPS Rathore's bail hearing in the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case till Friday, a cornered Rathore on Thursday hit back with a vicious smear campaign against Ruchika's family. Abha Rathore, wife and lawyer of the 'molester' DGP on Thursday alleged that the Girhotras are corrupt and the media has been used to harass the petitioner. The Rathore's claimed that Ruchika's father S C Girhotra is embroiled in corruption charges. Their second charge is that Anand Prakash, father of Aradhana who is the only witness to the molestation, retired prematurely as he was charged with corruption. The Rathores also added that Veena Girhotra ,who was living with Ruchika's father was not investigated by the CBI and that the media is being used as a tool to harass SPS Rathore. In Friday’s hearing at the Panchkula sessions court, Rathore will seek extension of his bail in cases related to the first two FIRs filed against him. Rathore's hearing for anticipatory bail has come up in cases of criminal conspiracy and hiding of evidence in the Ruchika case. Abha Rathore, wife and lawyer of former Haryana DGP SPS Rathore, earlier said that the fresh FIRs filed are not legal and have been done so only because of media pressure. Standing up for her husband at the Panchkula court, Abha insisted that there is no evidence which proves that Ashu Girhotra was tortured. Earlier, a complaint was filed on December 31 by Ruchika's brother Ashu, who alleged that Rathore forced his sister to commit suicide besides torturing him in police custody. Ashu, brother of Ruchika who committed suicide in 1993, three years after she was molested by Rathore, alleged in the complaint filed with Panchkula police that he was tortured, harassed and booked in false cases. Meanwhile, the Punjab and Haryana HC issued notices to the Haryana government, DGP of the state and Rathore. This comes after a PIL was filed to probe the use of influence to delay the case. Rathore was sentenced by a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court to six months in jail for molesting teenager Ruchika 19 years ago on August 12, 1990. A fine of Rs 1,000 was also imposed on Rathore, who, however, was immediately granted bail by the court. Ruchika, a 14-year-old budding tennis player, had committed suicide in December 1993, three years after the incident, following alleged harassment of her and her family at Rathore's behest.

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Ruchika case: Rathore launches 'vicious' smear campaign

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