New Delhi:
Jail may not be a very far thought for SPS Rathore anymore.
Nineteen years after the former Haryana DGP molested 14-year-old teenager Ruchika Girhotra, he will have to face interrogators again.
And this time it may not be in the comfort of his home, but from jail, sources say. For the past week, the CBI has been working quietly on the Ruchika case. In a discreet manner, it has already questioned the mystery woman whose name was dragged by the Rathores in court - Veena.
CBI sources say Veena has denied being married to Subhash Girhotra, Ruchika's father. She has also requested privacy as she has moved on with her life.
Rathore's lawyer-wife Abha Rathore has alleged in court that Veena was Ruchika's stepmother and the real reason for her suicide. But the Girhotras and Ruchika's friend Aradhna have constantly denied that her father was ever married to Veena.
Aradhna, who has waged a long battle for justice, said to a surfer's question on NDTV.com: "Girhotra uncle never married after Renuka aunty died in 1988. Veena was just a governess helping Ruchika with home chores. There is neither any witness nor any evidence that she was married to uncle. Regarding the three FIRs, Veena's presence or absence has no consequence. The reason they are overplaying this is because there has been overwhelming public support for us and now through character assassination he wants to delay the case and curtail public sympathy. As far as Ruchika's relationship with her is concerned, it was like any other relationship you share with a normal help that comes in the morning cooks, takes care of your clothes and leaves in the evening. Sometimes she (Veena) would leave even before I left."
The Girhotra family lawyer, Pankaj Bharadwaj says: "Even if it is proved that she (Veena) had something to do with Mr Girhotra, it would not affect the case under 306 (abetment to suicide) till the time she says I am the reason for her to commit suicide. Rather she has given a statement that she had a good relationship with Ruchika."
The CBI, which had probed this case many years ago and could not follow through with charges of abetment of suicide against Rathore, is now taking a tough line with him. Bharadwaj says that if Rathore is not able to justify the allegations against him, the CBI has the power to detain him and send him into custody.
The investigating agency has already opposed bail in court and sources explain that they need him in custody so that they could confront him with statements by made Ruchika's brother Ashu and her father.
Also, to build up pressure since they don't have tools like mobile phone records. They might also use tests like the lie detector to ascertain allegations of intimidation of CBI officers like former joint director RM Singh. And to verify his influence in Ruchika's expulsion from school, the CBI has not ruled out criminal action against the school either.
In December, a court sentenced Rathore to six months in prison for molesting Ruchika. After the sentence, her family and friends filed three new cases against Rathore.
The most serious case against Rathore is driving Ruchika to commit suicide. Rathore, in 1990, molested 14-year-old Ruchika Girhotra. After Ruchika complained against him, Rathore allegedly used his position as a senior police officer in Haryana to harass her family and her. She killed herself a little over three years after she was molested.