SC grants bail to SPS Rathore in Ruchika molestation case

SC grants bail to SPS Rathore in Ruchika molestation case

In a reprieve for SPS Rathore, the Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to the disgraced ex-DGP of Haryana who is behind bars for nearly six months serving a 18-month jail term in the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case.

The bail was given by a bench of Justices P Sathasivam and B S Chauhan, a day after the CBI filed a closure report in two of the three fresh cases registered against 68-year-old Rathore following allegations by the brother and the father of teenager Ruchika Girhotra.

The case against Rathore relating to abetment to suicide of Ruchika is however still under probe.

The Court also directed that Rathore shall not leave the country without prior permission of the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Chandigarh.

Rathore had challenged before the Apex Court his conviction and the enhanced jail term from six months to 18 months.

Reacting to the court order, a disappointed S C Girhotra, father of Ruchika, said his family will now feel "insecure" since there will be a threat of "harassment" from Rathore.

In a setback to the Ruchika Girhotra family, the apex court granted bail against the backdrop of the closure reports by the CBI in the two fresh cases and the former top cop of Haryana having already served close to six months of his 18-month sentence.

The two cases related to the accusation against the top cop that he had doctored Ruchika's post mortem report and that he was behind the custodial torture of her brother Ashu.

The closure reports were filed before the CBI court in Amabala which is yet to take a view.

Rathore's plea against conviction is however pending in the Supreme Court.

Ruchika, 14, a budding tennis player, had committed suicide three years after being molested by Rathore on 12th August, 1990.

A sessions court had on 25th May this year enhanced Rathore's jail term from six months to one-and-a-half years while allowing the plea of Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) and the Girhotra family.

Rathore has been serving the 18-month jail term in Burail jail in Chandigarh since 25th May after his punishment was enhanced.

Punjab and Haryana High Court had on 1st September dismissed Rathore's appeal challenging his conviction and the sentence, saying his conduct as a top official was "shameful. 

Ruchika's family hurt by SC order granting bail to Rathore

Deeply hurt by the Supreme Court order granting bail to SPS Rathore, the father of Ruchika Girhotra on Thursday said the disgraced former Haryana DGP should not have been treated as an "ordinary accused" and feared for his family's safety after his release.

"I am deeply hurt. I believe that no leniency should have been shown to Rathore and he should not have been treated as an ordinary accused," an emotionally-charged S C Girhotra told a news agency, minutes after the apex court granted bail to Rathore.

Ruchika, 14, a budding tennis player, had committed suicide three years after being molested by Rathore on 12th August, 1990.

Girhotra said he feared for his family's safety once 68-year-old Rathore is out of the jail.

"We are feeling insecure," he said, adding that Rathore deserves "exemplary punishment."

"He should not have been treated as an ordinary accused as he had been held guilty of molesting a 14-year-old girl. He was an Inspector General of Police rank officer (in 1990) when he committed the crime. No leniency should be shown. Being an IG, he should have acted as protector of children, but instead he himself committed the crime," he said.

He said the granting of bail is "unfortunate" at a time when the Government is talking of tougher laws to bring to justice those who are held guilty of crime against children, particularly those relating to sexual harassment.

"Nobody from the Government came forward to ensure that Rathore is not granted any reprieve," he said.

Rathore has been serving the 18-month jail term in Burail jail since 25th May after his punishment was enhanced by a sessions court.

Punjab and Haryana High Court had on 1st September dismissed Rathore's appeal challenging his conviction and the sentence, saying his conduct as a top official was "shameful".

The Supreme Court gave bail to Rathore, a day after the CBI filed a closure report in two of the three fresh cases registered against the former DGP following allegations by the Girhotra and his son Ashu in December last year.

The two cases involve doctoring of post-mortem report, filed by S C Girhotra, and a torture case filed by Ashu.

Commenting on the CBI's closure report, Girhotra said that "it was a unilateral action" taken by the premier investigating agency.

"Nobody from the CBI met me during the past 5-6 months. They never discussed anything with me and never told me that they were going to file the report," he said.

He said the CBI should have given him an opportunity to explain his position, which he claimed was not done.

"Now, I will discuss with my lawyer and accordingly we will decide what step to take (on the closure report)," he said.