Rathore’s first night in jail like normal prisoner

CHANDIGARH - Disgraced former Haryana police chief S.P.S. Rathore, convicted of molesting teenager Ruchika Girhotra, spent his first night in Burail jail here with authorities maintaining that he was not given any additional services and was treated just like a normal prisoner.

“He is just like any other prisoner for us. We have not given him any kind of VIP treatment. We have not provided him any bed and just like any convicts he slept on the berth. We are also providing him normal jail food,” Amandeep Singh, deputy superintendent of Burail jail, told IANS Wednesday.

Rathore, 68, who was convicted and sentenced to 18 months in jail Tuesday for molesting teenager Ruchika Girhotra in 1990, is sharing a cell with seven other prisoners, most of whom are convicted cops.

He was examined by a government doctor in jail before being formally placed in a prison cell Tuesday afternoon. His wife and counsel Abha Rathore also reached the jail to meet her husband Tuesday evening but she was not allowed to go inside.

She then gave some medicines, clothes and some documents (health reports of Rathore) to the security personnel, who were deployed outside the jail.

“Normally, there is no hassle when relatives of any convict come for the first time to meet him. Yesterday (Tuesday), Abha Rathore came late at around 5.30 p.m. Therefore, she was not allowed to meet her husband. If she comes again today we will allow her to meet Rathore,” Parmod Khatri, assistant superintendent of Burail jail, told IANS.

Abha had Tuesday pleaded with the judge that Rathore was not keeping good health and required medical treatment. However, the jail staff maintained that there is no need of outside medical assistance.

“Right now, we do not think that there is any need to call any doctor from outside or to take Rathore to some hospital. We have our own medical team in the jail and they had examined Rathore again in the night. It was a routine check and everything was found normal,” stated Khatri.

Since the jail is comparatively small, Rathore would not be given a prisoner’s number.

Many dreaded criminals, including terrorists Jagtar Singh Hawara and Paramjit Singh Bheora, convicted for assassinating Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh in 1995, are also lodged in Burail jail.

Rathore, a former director general of police (DGP) in Haryana, filed a plea in January challenging his conviction by a CBI special court here for molesting 15-year-old Ruchika Aug 12, 1990.

Ruchika committed suicide three years after Rathore molested her in Panchkula town, adjoining Chandigarh.