Molestation case: Ruchika's father speaks up

Father of Ruchika Girihotra, who was molested by former Haryana Director General of Police S P S Rathore in 1990 and later committed suicide, on Thursday accused former chief minister Om Prakash Chautala of providing wholehearted support to the convict during his tenure.

"We have been moving here and there for the last 19 years. He (Rathore) has been following us and harassing us. He was the DGP. Whom do we complain to? The chief minister was backing him wholeheartedly. (Om Prakash) Chautala was the chief minister," S C Girihotra told reporters.

He also accused former chief minister Bhajan Lal of not doing much in the case to bring the perpetrator to book.

"When Bhajan Lal was the chief minister, he did not do much," Girihotra claimed.

Rathore, who molested 14-year-old budding tennis player Ruchika in 1990, was awarded a jail term of only six months, 19 years after the incident. He was also granted bail and released immediately.

"This six-month imprisonment is no punishment. We want exemplary punishment, so that nobody should dare to repeat such action. My daughter is no more. No other child should be victim of such crime," Girihotra said, adding that the family was hurt after learning of the 'meager' punishment. He said Rathore should have been charged with abatement to suicide.

"They harassed her so much that she committed suicide. So why he (Rathore) was not charged with abatement to suicide? Initially, the court of special magistrate had passed an order that it is a case of abatement to suicide," Girhotra said.

However, Rathore kept on approaching the high court all along and was not charged with abatement to suicide, he said. Girhotra pointed out that there were three witnesses in the case. The matter should have been finished in just one week, he said.

Asked whether they were apprehending any fresh threats, Girhotra said, "If there is any threat, we will demand security".

"But I don't think they will indulge in any foul play with us since the matter has been much publicised," he said.