New Delhi:
Two teenage girls, best friends and neighbours, watched television as Steffi Graf battled Monica Seles on August 12, 1990. Itching to imitate those serves and volleys, 14-year-old Ruchika Girhotra and Aradhana Parkash headed straight to the tennis court in their hometown Chandigarh.
It turned into a day that would scar them so badly, that one of them would be pushed to death. (
Read and Watch: Senior cop molested teen who killed herself)
During their game, they were summoned to the office of the President of the Haryana Lawn Tennis Federation. He was also one of Haryana's most-senior policemen. S P S Rathore asked Aradhana to leave his office. When she returned, he was molesting her best friend. He stopped when he realised he had been caught.
Ruchika's own mother had died when she was 11. She confided in Aradhana's family. (
Read: Ruchika statement against her molestor)
The Parkashes immediately adopted Ruchika's battle as their own; a battle that pitted them against a powerful policeman with hefty political connections. A police inquiry found Rahore guilty. Not surprisingly, his own force refused to take any action against him.
Men who followed them everywhere threatened the families. Ruchika found herself expelled from school three years later. Her brother was arrested for half a dozen car thefts. Overwhelmed by what her family was going through, Ruchika, now 17, killed herself by drinking poison. The cases against her brother were dropped after that. The Girhotras left Chandigarh. (
Watch: Ruchika's story on The Buck Stops Here)
Aradhana, however, vowed to fight for her friend. Her family won a CBI inquiry for the case in 2000. (
Watch: Justice for Ruchika: Friends seek public support |
Read: Her best friend's crusade for justice)
But the charges against Rathore were a pale version of what Aradhana wanted. Instead of abetment of suicide amounting to murder, Rathore was accused of molestation.
The CBI said that because Ruchika had killed herself three years after the molestation, her death could not be linked to Rathore. Oddly enough, the CBI's own chargesheet contradicts that. It says, "The investigation has also disclosed that after the incident of molestation of Ms Ruchika remained confined to her house and remained depressed. Later, she committed suicide."
Through this, Rathore's career flourished. He retired as Haryana's most-senior policeman, the Director General of Police, in 2002. (
Watch: How did such a police officer get promoted: Ambika Soni)
Om Prakash Chautala, who was the chief minister during this time, denies that he sanctioned Rathore's promotions. Chautala told NDTV on Tuesday that his sympathies lie with Ruchika's family, and that he wishes the verdict against Rathore had been more severe. (
Read: Age and lengthy trial helped Rathore)
That verdict has stumped everyone - six months awarded on Monday to a man found guilty of molesting a teenager. Rathore was granted bail immediately, so he will spend no time in prison. He says he will appeal against the verdict. His other comment: "It's a very old issue. Forget about it now." (
Read: Charges against Rathore not serious enough?)
The CBI, which investigated the case, says it will consider appealing for a tougher sentence. (
Forum: Is six months enough for such a crime? |
Read surfer comments)
In Parliament, Rajya Sabha MP Brinda Karat raised the shocking verdict. "The Ruchika case reveals the sickness in our system. The criminal policeman has been promoted while the brother of the victim had fake cases registered against him. How long will such a system prevail? I appeal to the Home Minister and Law Minister to reform our justice system for victims of sexual assault." (
Watch: Verdict is a national shame: Arun Jaitley)