Our fight will continue even after verdict: Ruchika's father

Ruchika Girhotra's father SC Girhotra today said their fight for justice will continue even after Sessions court verdict on former Haryana police chief SPS Rathore on enhancing his sentence in the molesation case of the budding tennis player.

"We are hopeful Rathore will get maximum punishment (two years) in Ruchika molestation case. But our fight for justice will continue even after that as CBI is investigating abetment to suicide case against him," Girhotra told reporters.

Besides the molestation case, CBI had in January this year registered three cases including one under Section 306 of the IPC (abetment to suicide) against the disgraced former DGP on the complaint of Ruchika's family.
       
Turning emotional while recalling traumatic time they had gone through during the past nearly two decades, Girhotra said "Rathore was custodian of law being IGP in Haryana Police (in 1990). But protector of law turned its offender and molested a girl, whom he was supposed to protect like a guardian".
       
"It was because of constant harassment and torture unleashed on behest of Rathore that Ruchika was driven to suicide. Abetment to suicide case against Rathore is still being heard by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Our fight will continue till he gets punishment for pushing an innocent child to commit suicide," Girhotra said.
       
Anand Prakash and Madhu Prakash, parents of Aradhna, the sole witness in the molestation incident, said that Rathore never deserved any leniency.

"A man who should have acted as a guardian and protector of law molested a young girl and victimised, tortured her and her family.

Rathore has been proved guilty beyond doubt in the molestation case by the trial court, but he walked away with a light sentence of six months earlier," Anand Prakash said.

"The sentiments of the public are that he deserves no leniency and must go behind the bars," he added.
       
Madhu Prakash said it was a long-drawn battle for justice for the family."But not for once did we lose hope even though there were numerous occasions when we used to wonder what is going to happen next" she added.