In further trouble for disgraced former DGP SPS Rathore, Haryana Police today slapped a fresh charge of abetment to suicide against him in the Ruchika molestation case.
A third FIR against Rathore and some others was filed under section 306 (abetment to suicide) of IPC at the Sector 5 Police Station here, Superintendent of Police Maneesh Chaudhary said.
He said the Panchkula Police has recommended that this case also be handed over to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) which is probing the two other new cases against Rathore, who was handed down a lighter punishment of six months jail term for molesting Ruchika Girhotra in 1990.
The SIT will subsequently recommend to the state government to hand over the three cases to the CBI as demanded by the family of Madhu Parkash, the complainant and the Girhotra family, the SP said.
Before the CBI chargesheet, the then Haryana DGP R R Singh in his probe in 1990 had concluded that whatever Ruchika had stated about her molestation by Rathore was "based on true facts and that he was of the considered opinion that a cognizable offence was made out."
Singh, therefore, had recommended registration of case under appropriate sections of Indian Penal Code and had forwarded his Inquiry report of September 3, 1990 to the Home Secretary during the tenure of Chief Minister Hukam Singh of Janata Dal.
After the incident of molestation, Ruchika remained confined to her house and was depressed. She committed suicide by consuming poison on December 28, 1993 and died the next day.
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After her suicide, the case was transferred to CBI and the agency "established (that) Rathore, while working as President of Haryana Lawn Tennis Association, Panchkula, molested Ruchika."
The chargesheet was presented in the court of the Special Judicial Magistrate, CBI, Ambala on November 17, 2000 when INLD's Om Parkash Chautala was the Chief Minister.
Thereafter, Rathore was ordered to be summoned for the offence. He appeared in response to the notice on January 10, 2001 and was given bail.
On December 31, Ruchika's brother Ashu had filed a complaint with the Panchkula Police demanding invoking of section 306 IPC against the former top cop and others.