The Centre has started the process to withdraw the police medal given to convicted former Haryana Director General of Police S P S Rathore, Union Home Secretary G K Pillai said on Saturday.
"The Home Ministry is taking steps to withdraw the police medal given to Rathore in 1985. The matter will be placed before an award committee on January 4. Thereafter the recommendation will go to the President," Pillai told reporters here.
Rathore has been sentenced by a CBI court to six months in jail for molesting 14-year-old Ruchika Girhotra 19 years ago.
"As far as other issues are concerned -- reduction of pension and (his) conduct unbecoming of a police officer -- show-cause notice has been initiated," Pillai said.
The Ministry has sent the notice to Rathore asking why his police medal should not be taken away and pension reduced as his conduct was unbecoming of a police officer.
The 1965-batch IPS officer, who retired in 2002, was awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious service on August 15, 1985.
Ruchika, a budding tennis player, was molested in 1990 by Rathore, the then Inspector General of Police. She committed suicide three years later by consuming poison. Her family alleges that she was forced to take the extreme step as authorities harassed her family for pursuing the case against the police officer. PTI
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