Chandigarh:
From 1990 when he molested a 14-year-old to 2002, when he retired, SPS Rathore rose through the Haryana Police to become its senior-most policeman.
The fact that a police inquiry indicted him, or that the girl that he molested killed herself didn't stop his meteoric rise to Director General of Police. Bureaucrats in the different Haryana governments that were in power during this period say Rathore's political clout was significant and blatant.
In 1990, when Ruchika was molested, Hukam Singh, who was Chief Minister of Haryana did nothing. RR Singh who was Rathore's boss in the police said in an official report that he was convinced Rathore was guilty and that a police case should be registered against him. Instead, he found himself the target of public protests by Rathore's men. They used to come outside my house and shout slogans. They said the case was fake and indirectly threatened me. Had they made direct threats, I would have ensured then and there that they get behind bars," said RR Singh.
In 1991, Om Prakash Chautala replaced Hukam Singh as Chief Minister. Again, Rathore enjoyed a free run.
Just a few months later, Bhajan Lal tool over and stayed as Chief Minister till 1996. It was during this period that Rathore was made Deputy General of the Police. Bhajan Lal's successor, Bansi Lal, promoted Rathore further to Director General of Police.
In 2000, Chautala returned to power. In this year, the CBI, which was investigating the case, filed a chargesheet against Rathore, accusing him of molestation. Finally, the government asked Rathore to go on leave. Not really any sort of punishment, experts point out. Four different chief ministers failed to penalize a police officer whose guilt was clear right from the start. He was rewarded even as it became clear that his offences ranged from molesting a teenager to using his power and position to retaliate against her, eventually driving her to suicide, and her family away from its hometown.