Rathore made life hell for Ruchika’s family, pals

Former Haryana DGP SPS Rathore, who has been convicted for molesting Ruchika Girhotra in 1990, had ruthlessly used the police as well as goons to intimidate those who were either related to Ruchika or chose to stand by her.

First, Ruchika, who refused to withdraw her complaint, was hounded by goons whenever she left her home. Policemen in plainclothes followed her at Rathore’s behest and passed lewd remarks. Soon, Rathore allegedly “manipulated her rustication from the school.”

When she refused to buckle under his pressure, Rathore targeted her father, Subhash Girhotra, a bank manager. Within months, Subhash was suspended from service on charges of corruption. His house was attacked and Rathore’s supporters used to chant slogans in front of the house.

Furthermore, Rathore managed to pin six cases of theft against Ruchika’s brother Ashu, who was kept in police custody for more than two months and was subjected to severe torture. Even after 15 years, Ashu bears torture scars on his body. He was released within hours of Ruchika’s suicide and all cases were withdrawn.

Pankaj Bhardwaj, the lawyer who took up Ruchika’s case, too, was a victim of Rathore’s excessive ways. Rathore slapped two court cases —a defamation case and a case for compensation — against Pankaj.

Pankaj, who did not take a fee to fight Ruchika’s case, endured mental torture for almost five years.

Anand and Madhu Prakash, who picked up the cudgels for Ruchika after her father and brother were hounded by Rathore, were not spared either. Within weeks, Anand, who was chief engineer with the Haryana Agriculture Marketing Board was demoted to the rank of superintending engineer and then forced into premature retirement. He did, however, challenge the government orders and was given relief by court.

Anand’s daughter and Ruchika’s friend, Aradhana, who is the sole witness in the molestation case, received abusive and threat calls for months until she got married and left for Australia.

When Rathore was heading the vigilance team in the Haryana State Electricity Board (HSEB), he sent special teams from Bhiwani to raid houses of several of his complainants.

Rathore’s victims approached the then irrigation and power minister Shamsher Singh Surjewala against Rathore. Finally, Rathore filed two cases — one criminal and another civil — demanding compensation of Rs1 crore, each from journalists who reported on the matter.