Ruchika’s family sold house,went to Shimla

The pressure tactics of former DGP S P S Rathore against the Girhotras forced them to sell their one-kanal bungalow in Sector 6 Panchkula and settle on the outskirts of Shimla to try and start life afresh.

“We had made our decision to find solace somewhere else after Ruchika committed suicide and Ashu was paraded on the streets. My son avoided getting out of the house due to the embarrassment and humiliation of the tormenting events. Finally we moved out of this town,” said Subhash Girhotra.

“In Shimla,we purchased a tipper and started doing earth filling for our livelihood. We used to come to Panchkula to pursue cases involving Ashu and broke off all contacts here after Ashu was absolved of charges in 1997,” he said. He recalled how he sold his house,which was his dream house. “Life became hell for us. I was even forced to sell my house at a throwaway price of Rs 18 lakh which is now priced at more than Rs 3 crore. I lost my wife,my daughter and my son’s dignity.”