Govt May File Fresh Cases Against Rathore, If People Depose

The government may file fresh cases against convicted former Haryana police chief S P S Rathore if those levelling allegations desire to register a statement against him before the magistrate, official sources said.

The cases could be registered under Prevention of Corruption Act and for obstruction of justice against Rathore, convicted for molesting 14-year-old Ruchika Girhotra.

They said a case for attempting to bribe a public servant could be registered against Rathore provided former CBI Joint Director R M Singh, who headed the investigation then, give a statement under Section 161 of CrPC (calling of witness).

Singh had recently claimed that Rathore had tried to influence him and the investigation team.

"He (Rathore) even stated that he was going to bribe me also and offered all help when I was constructing my house," the former officer had alleged.

Singh had claimed that he had brought all these developments to the notice of his seniors and alleged that although Rathore tried his best to influence the probe, he was not successful initially.

However, when contacted, Singh told PTI, "I have not made any formal complaint...when it comes up, I will decide then."

The Home Ministry sources said the Ministry is also looking at the option of charging Rathore with obstruction of justice.

As the Centre was contemplating filing fresh charges against a convicted IPS officer in Ruchika molestation, the CBI on Tuesday in New Delhi  said it will go in for a review of the entire case including enhancement of punishment for former Haryana police chief S P S Rathore.

"The matter is under examination. All aspects, including the one which has been highlighted by the press after the judgement, are being considered by our legal experts," CBI spokesperson Harsh Bahl said here.

The spokesperson said that a final view, if any, will be taken in consultation with Law and Home Ministries.

While he refused to entertain any further questions, sources in the investigating agency said an appeal against the trial court judgement in the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case for enhancement of punishment was likely to be filed soon.

Rathore was recently sentenced to six months in jail by a CBI court for molesting 14-year-old Ruchira, a budding tennis player, in 1990. She committed suicide three years later and the family alleges that their continuous harassment by the former DGP drove her to take the extreme step.

The judgement sparked off widespread protests by her family, friends and members of civil society who demanded bringing abetment to suicide charges against Rathore. The media has also been highlighting the matter.

The Government is also planning to slap fresh charges against Rathore including those related to attempting to bribe a public servant after then Joint Director of CBI R M Singh claimed that the former DGP had approached him and offered him money to dilute the case.

Meanwhile  the CBI is consulting Union Law and Home Ministries on making an appeal for enhancing punishment for former Haryana DGP S P S Rathore in the Ruchika molestation case. 

There are indications that the CBI may approach courts seeking inclusion of the charge of abetment to suicide against Rathore whose alleged harassment of her family led Ruchika Girhotra to end her life this day 16 years ago. 

Last week, Rathore got away with a light punishment of six months imprisonment after being convicted of molesting Ruchika in 1990 when she was 14 and a budding tennis player. She committed suicide three years later after her family was harrassed by Rathore and his cohorts in police. 

The Home Ministry has called Pankaj Bhardwaj, Ruchika's family lawyer, to Delhi tomorrow to discuss the strategy on how to pursue the case further while addressing the concern of miscarriage of justice. 

On a day when a PIL was filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking reopening of the case and a ten year jail term for Rathore of charges of abetment of suicide, the CBI which prosecuted the case said in Delhi that it was in touch with the Law and Home Ministries on how to go about the issue. 

"The matter is under examination. All aspects, including the one which has been highlighted by the press after the judgement, are being considered by our legal experts," CBI spokesperson Harsh Bahl said here. 

The CBI spokesperson said a final view, if any,  will be taken in consultation with Law and Home Ministries. 

Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women today asked the Haryana Government to file an appeal against the trial court verdict in the case. It has also constituted a committee of lawyers for examining the case and suggest ways to get the case re-investigating. 

Home Ministry sources said the CBI may file fresh cases against Rathore if those levelling allegations register their statements against Rathore before a magistrarte. 

Such cases could be under prevention of corruption act for allegedly attempting to bribe a CBI officer R M Singh who headed the investigating team and for obstruction of justice. 

In a related development, a petition was filed today in the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking re-opening of the case against Rathore and a 10-year jail term to him for abetment to suicide.

The petition, in the form of a public interest litigation (PIL), was filed by a local advocate Ranjan Lakhanpal, who has sought a thorough probe into the molestation incident, circumstances leading to her suicide and booking of her borther Ashu in false cases. 

Contending that Rathore has got away with the minimum sentence even for molestation under Sec.354 of the IPC which provides for a maximum two-year jail term, the petioner said the High Court should lay down guidelines for taking action in such cases so that victims do not suffer and the accused do not go scot free. 

The petitioner wants that Rathore should be convicted for abetment to suicide under Section 306 of the IPC which provides for a maximum 10 year imprisonment. PTI

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