Rathores lie nailed: to escape the law,he said Ruchika was expelled on moral grounds

A week after Sacred Heart School,Chandigarh,struck off the name of Ruchika Girhotra from its rolls on September 20,1990,SPS Rathore,who was convicted last month of molesting her....

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A week after Sacred Heart School,Chandigarh,struck off the name of Ruchika Girhotra from its rolls on September 20,1990,SPS Rathore,who was convicted last month of molesting her, sent a representation to the then Haryana Home Minister Sampat Singh alleging that Ruchika was expelled from the school on moral grounds. He also wrote that the inquiry by the then DGP R R Singh recommending registration of a case against him was one-sided in a sub-judice matter,according to a file noting by Sampat Singh.

Documents accessed by The Indian Express nail the lies of the convicted former DGP Rathore and the school. While the school had claimed that Ruchika was not expelled,Rathore had said that he did not know about it.

The Union Territory Administration,during the magisterial inquiry conducted by SDM Prerna Puri last week into Ruchikas expulsion,asked Rathore: Did you submit a representation to the CBI/ Haryana Government in the year 1990 or any time thereafter mentioning the expulsion of Ruchika Girhotra from Sacred Heart School,Sector 26,Chandigarh?

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His signed reply said: I dont remember about it since it is a 19 years old matter. I have carefully checked (the) record connected with the trial,which was going on in Ambala and Patiala. No such letter or representation or document is available with me. Hence denied.

However,file notings by Sampat Singh on September 27,1990 reads: Representation by Mr Rathore alleging (the probe) to be a one-sided enquiry in subjudice matter. The girl was expelled from her school also on moral grounds. Can FIR be lodged or not.

The notings followed the recommendation of J K Duggal,Financial Commissioner,Home,on September 4,1990,to Sampat Singh that a case under sections 354 and 342 of the IPC be got registered from crime branch of CID.

Ruchika was expelled from the school shortly after the first inquiry against Rathore indicted him and recommended registration of a criminal case against him on charges of molestation and wrongful confinement. It was then that he sent a representation to the Home Minister.

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Files and file notings of the Haryana government reveal how the Haryana government too toed Rathores line.

*On Sampat Singhs query on whether an FIR can be lodged or not,the then Assistant Legal Rememberencer (ALR) and Under Secretary wrote on December 21,1990: No legal bar for registering the case.

*On January 25,1991,Sampat Singh wrote,The opinion of new DGP may also be obtained and submitted the same to the Chief Minister,Hukam Singh.

*The Chief Ministers Office,on February 27,1991,wrote (a noting signed by LM Jain,the then Personal Secretary to Chief Minister) CM has seen. He has desired that file be submitted to him along with views of the new DGP within 10 days positively.

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*On March,11,1991,the then Director General of Police RK Hooda,let off Rathore by recommending just departmental action against him.

The systematic assault on Ruchikas family followedher brother Ashu,who was falsely implicated in six criminal cases.

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