JOIN USRathore's case needs further probe: NCW
“The NCW is anguished as efforts are alleged to have been made to hamper proper investigation at every stage in this particular case,” commission chairperson Girija Vyas said.
Rathore was on Monday given six months imprisonment by a special CBI court in Chandigarh in the August 1990 Ruchika Girhotra molestation case. He got bail the same day and didn’t have to go to the prison. Ruchika, a 14-year-old budding tennis player, committed suicide in December 1993, following her and her family’s continuous harassment allegedly at the behest of Rathore.
Vyas has written to the Haryana chief minister to identify the lacunae in investigation in the case and explore the possibility of filing an appeal against the judgement.“It is learnt that the charge of abetment to suicide was withdrawn by the police,” Vyas said. Though the cop had been held guilty, he was given just six months jail.
The NCW had also set up a five-member committee comprising eminent legal luminaries to examine the sequence of events since the complaint was first made by the complainant and also to establish whether there was any attempt to scuttle or impede the investigation in an effort to hush up the matter.
The committee would submit a report to the NCW within two months. The top cop had reportedly misused his high office to hush up evidence and interfere with investigations. Even the FIR was lodged only after an intervention by the court.
Vyas also mentioned that she had written to both the Law and Home Ministers to expedite the passage of the Bill on Sexual Assault, incorporating all forms of sexual assault on women.
“This is now pending with the Home Ministry. We have taken up the matter with the Home Minister so that it can be introduced in Parliament at the earliest, preferably in the Budget session,” she said.
Case ‘not over’, says accused
Chandigarh,Agencies: Disgraced but defiant former Haryana director-general of police S P S Rathore on Wednesday said the Ruchika Girhotra molestation “case is still not over” and he would soon approach a higher court. “Right now, I do not want to comment on the court’s verdict or about this case as it is still not over. I will further move an appeal in a higher court very soon,” Rathore contended from his residence.