Ruchika case: Rathore sentenced to 1 1/2 years in jail

The judge allowed the pleas of CBI and Ruchika’s family for enhancement of his sentence.

The court directed that Rathore be taken to the local Burial Jail immediately following dismissal of his appeal and enhancement of the sentence after which he was taken into custody by the CBI.

After the sentencing,Rathore looked grim,his face sans its usual wide grin,but he told reporters,”I will keep smiling”.

The former DGP was sentenced to six months’ rigorous imprisonment on December 21 last year by CBI Judge J S Sidhu for molesting Ruchika,a budding tennis player,in Panchkula on August 12,1990.

Three years after the incident,Ruchika committed suicide.

The quantum of sentence had sparked an outrage in the country. Rathore was later stripped of his President’s Police Medal.

Rathore had sought setting aside the trial court verdict against him while Ruchika’s family and the CBI had pleaded for enhancement of punishment to the maximum of two years provided in the law.

The court directed the jail superintendent to provide proper medical care to Rathore,if required,following an application by his lawyer-wife Abha that he was a heart patient and required care.

The court allowed Rathore’s plea for getting himself examined at the cardiac care department of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER).