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Ruchika Molestation
Nod to strip Rathore of police medal
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 2
Disgraced Haryana DGP SPS Rathore, recently convicted for molesting Panchkula teenager Ruchika Girhotra, is set to lose the police medal conferred upon him for meritorious service. President Pratibha Patil has given her assent to the Home Ministry reference in this regard.

Rathore (68) had molested budding tennis player and Class X student Ruchika 19 years ago. She had later committed suicide. Rathore was awarded a mild six-month imprisonment, causing tremendous public outrage against him and pressure to strip him of past accolades.

The Home Ministry had earlier approached the President on this issue with Rashtrapati Bhavan sources saying Patil had assented to stripping Rathore of the police medal.

The Ministry’s action came on a recommendation made by the Central Police Awards Committee (CPAC) headed by Home Secretary Gopal K Pillai. The committee had earlier recommended that the 1985 police medal given to Rathore be withdrawn for “moral turpitude” or bringing “disrepute or disrespect” to the service following his conviction.

The Home Ministry had earlier served a show-cause notice upon Rathore, asking why his pension and other post-retirement benefits not be reduced.