Rathore planting false reports in media: Ruchika’s father

PANCHKULA - S.C. Girhotra, the father of molestation victim Ruchika, Saturday accused former Haryana police chief S.P.S. Rathore of planting a media report that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had found no proof in the fresh cases filed against him.

“We strongly contradict this news story. It is totally baseless and aimed at jeopardising the case proceedings. Rathore has used his clout and got it published. It is aimed to influence the verdict of the district court (on Rathore’s plea challenging his conviction in the Ruchika case) that is slated to come May 20,” Girhotra told reporters here.

A national daily Saturday carried a report citing CBI officials as saying that they have not got any proof against Rathore in the cases filed against him in December 2009 and January 2010, charging him with attempt to murder, criminal intimidation, forging evidence, criminal conspiracy and abetting Ruchika’s suicide.

Girhotra said that when he inquired about the story, he was told that the daily had got its information from a CBI source. “Today I talked to senior CBI officials in New Delhi. They all maintained that the investigation was under process and so far they have not reached any conclusion. Now God knows that how come this reporter got this false news.”

Anand Parkash, the main complainant in the case, said: “We do not doubt the integrity of CBI and we have full belief in their investigation. But Rathore is trying to interfere in their investigation through these means.”

The CBI special court held Rathore guilty in December last year of molesting 15-year-old Ruchika in Panchkula August 1990. She committed suicide three years later.

Rathore was sentenced to six months’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs.1,000. However, he was immediately granted bail and challenged his conviction.