M A I N   N E W S

Charges framed against Rathore
Tribune News Service

Ambala, March 17
The special Magistrate for CBI cases in Haryana, Mr Surya Pratap Singh, today framed charges against former Director General of Police, Haryana, Mr SPS Rathore, in the Ruchika molestation case.

The notice of accusation for the offence punishable under Section 354 of the IPC was read over. Mr Rathore, through his counsel Mr Ajay Jain, pleaded not guilty. The case has been fixed for April 17.

It was alleged that on August 12, 1990 at about 12 noon, Mr S. P. S. Rathore, President, Haryana Lawn Tennis Association, molested Ms Ruchika in the office of the Lawn Tennis Association after securing her presence on the pretext of discussions on arrangements for extra facilities to promote Ruchika’s career in lawn tennis.

The CBI in its charge sheet stated “on entering the office Ms Aradhana, alias Reemu, found that the accused was holding one hand of Ruchika while his other hand was around her waist and Ruchika was trying to get herself released by pushing the accused with her other hand which was not held by the accused. On seeing Ms Reemu, the accused got nervous, released Ruchika and fell back in his chair.”

“Ms Aradhana, alias Reemu, told the accused that Mr T. Thomas, coach, had refused to come whereupon the accused again ordered Ms Reemu to go and bring the coach personally. In the meantime, Ruchika started leaving the room but the accused asked her to stay and again told Ms Reemu to go and fetch the coach.”

The charge sheet states “However, Ms Ruchika reached near Ms Reemu and then ran out of the office. The accused then told Ms Reemu, “Ask her to cool down, I will do whatever she says.” “Thereafter, Ms Reemu also ran out of the office of the accused and tried to catch up with Ms Ruchika who was then running towards her house and was also weeping. With some effort, Ms Reemu could catch up with Ms Ruchika.”

“On seeing Ms Reemu, Ms Ruchika who was already weeping started crying loudly. According to Ms Reemu, Ms Ruchika informed her that as soon as the former had left to fetch the coach, the accused had caught hold of Ms Ruchika’s hand which was released by Ms Ruchika with lot of difficulty. But the accused had then got up from his chair and caught Ms Ruchika’s hand again and with his other hand, had also encircled Ms Ruchika’s waist, dragged her towards himself and had embraced her. Ms Ruchika also informed Ms Reemu that she had struggled to push the accused away with her other hand which was not held by the accused,” the charge sheet adds.

On August 21, 1990, Mr R.R. Singh, who was the then DGP, Haryana, received the order dated August 17, 1990 holding an inquiry into the matter. Mr R.R. Singh conducted the inquiry into the incident of molestation of Ruchika and recorded the statements of Ruchika, Ms Reemu, Mr S.C. Girhotra, Ms Madhu Anand, Mr Anand Prakash and Mr Anil Dhawan, SHO, PS Panchkula.

“After conducting the enquiry into the incident, Mr R.R. Singh concluded that whatever Ruchika had stated about her molestation by Mr SPS Rathore was based on true facts and that he was of the considered opinion that a cognisable offence was made out. Mr R.R. Singh, therefore, had recommended the registration of a case under appropriate Section of the Indian Penal Code and had forwarded his inquiry report dated September 3, 1990 to the Home Secretary, Government of Haryana,” the charge sheet states.

The charge sheet points out “the investigation has also disclosed that after the incident of molestation, Ms Ruchika remained confined to her house and remained depressed. Later, Ms Ruchika committed suicide by consuming poison on December 12, 1993, and died on December 29, 1993.”