This Article is From Jan 01, 2010

Ruchika's brother speaks out, files complaint against Rathore

Panchkula, Haryana: Sixteen years after Ruchika Girhotra committed suicide, after being molested by a man who rose to become Director General of Police in Haryana, the wheels of justice may finally be catching up.

After 19 years, 2010 may be the first year that holds hope for theGirhotra family. On Thursday Ruchika's brother Ashu Girhotra, who hasbeen silent along with the rest of Ruchika's family, emerged out of this silence to file a fresh complaintagainst their tormentor the former Haryana DGP.

Ashu Girhotra in his new FIR stated that Rathore and the Panchkula police falselyarrested and tortured him and drove his sister to suicide. The abetmentto suicide charge if proven can land SPS Rathore in jail for 10 years.

Ashu also says categorically that the CBI only investigated the molestation case and did not take into account the incidents of intimidation by Rathore and his men which could have been used to make a case for abetting Ruchika's suicide.

Ashu's complaint is really the key for further action against Rathore, not just at the level of the police in Haryana but also in terms of what central agencies like the CBI can do.

On Thursday, the CBI made it clear they were looking at this case very very closely particularly the grounds on which abetment of suicide charges against Rathore can stick.

Ashu has also suffered at the hands of Rathore, but now after recent events he has emerged to fight on the case.

Ashu's affidavit says:
  • I had to undergo inhuman torture at the instance of Rathore
  • I was terrorised, and not given food or water for days at a stretch and was beaten mercilessly
  • I was paraded in handcuffs in front of my house while police abused my sister 
  • A couple of days later, he says he learnt that his sister had committed suicide 
  • Ashu says he was kept in police custody for more than two months from the 23rd of October 1993 to the 29th of December
In the affidavit, Ashu says he had to undergo inhuman torture at the instance of Rathore. He says, "I was terrorised and not given food or water for days at a stretch and was beaten mercilessly. I was paraded in handcuffs in front of my house while police abused my sister."

A couple of days later, he says he learnt that his sister had committed suicide.

Ashu says he was kept in police custody for more than two months from October 23, 1993 to December 29.
.