Ruchika's father SC Girhotra reacts to SPS Rathore's conviction by a Chandigarh court
Ruchika's father SC Girhotra reacts to SPS Rathore's conviction by a Chandigarh court
Subhash Chandra Girhotra is a much-relieved man. It was nearly two decades ago when his teenage daughter Ruchika died and his quest for justice began. And finally his efforts have borne fruits. But the pain is still there.
"Sometimes I try to look at him when he (Rathore) is around (in court room). But I can't. Every time I see him, my daughter's face crops up before my eyes," Girhotra said on his daughter's tormentor.
Vindicated: Ruchika's father SC Girhotra says that he will pursue the
case with more zeal now. Pic/mid day
Additional district and sessions judge Gurbir Singhu00a0 on Tuesday afternoon enhanced Rathore's sentence in the molestation case to 18 months (one and a half years), while rejecting the appeal against his conviction in the case by a CBI special court in December last year, and ordered that he be taken into custody immediately and be taken to the Burail prison.
The CBI special court had held Rathore guilty for molesting Ruchika, a budding tennis player, in Panchkula in Haryana nearly two decades ago. Ruchika had subsequently committed suicide in 1993 after she and her family were regularly harassed, alegedly at Rathore's behest.
"I can not believe what has happened today," Girhotra said, speaking over the phone from his hometown.
"In fact, I never thought we would be able to bring the case this far. There was a time when I had completely given up hope. I used to think that I had lost one child, let's save others (son and family members)," he said.
Praising his family friend, Anand Prakash, and his daughter, Aradhna, he said, "They came like angels into my life. I would have been dead by now if they would not have been around. They kept supporting me all the while."
Talking about Tuesday's judgement Girhotra said, "We have won half the battle. We will now pursue the abetment to suicide case with full force and I am sure we will get justice for my daughter. I know I will not get my daughter back by winning this case but at least now I am satisfied that the person who ruined my family is getting what he deserved."
Anand Prakash, father of Ruchika's friend Aradhana Gupta, who had helped the family wage the legal battle, said the verdict proved that even "powerful" people like Rathore could not escape from the law of the land.
"We are satisfied with the court's order. We have won the battle but we are prepared for the war (against Rathore). We want him to pay for his sins," he said.
Ruchika's friend and the lone eyewitness in the case, Aradhna Gupta, who is now settled in Sydney (Australia), said: "I am very happy with the verdict and for Ruchika. We fought this long battle against Rathore to get her justice. I am very happy at the victory."
Rathore, 68, who was present in the court when Additional District and Sessions Judge Gurbir Singh pronounced the verdict Tuesday afternoon, was taken into custody by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and taken to Burail prison.
This is the first time in over 19 years that Rathore has been formally arrested in the Ruchika molestation case.
When Rathore left for the court on Tuesday afternoon from his bungalow in Panchkula's upscale Sector 6, he was beaming as he waved to mediapersons waiting outside his house.
Dressed in a white striped shirt and trousers with a tie and black sunglasses, Rathore folded his hands as his Tata Indica passed by the waiting media.
| Flag bearer |
| SPS Rathore will be the third DGP of Haryana who has been sent to jail. Former DGPs Lachhman Das and Ramesh Sehgal have also been arrested for their involvement in a murder and corruption case, respectively. |
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