Chandigarh:
A month after 14-year-old Ruchika Girhotra was molested by a senior police officer, she was expelled by her school, the Sacred Heart Convent in Chandigarh. It shamed and depressed her, and Ruchika's family believes that it's one of the reasons why she committed suicide three years later in 1993.
Was the school pressured by the policeman who molested Ruchika? The Chandigarh administration says a formal inquiry is in its last stages; the Home Secretary that the report will be made public on Thursday.
The school has denied allegations that it acted on the instructions of SPS Rathore, the Inspector General who molested Ruchika. Instead, spokespersons for the school say that Ruchika has not paid her school fees for several months.
Ruchika's father, Subhash Girhotra, says he was not given any warnings about his daughter's overdue fees.
A Public Interest Litgation (PIL) filed in a Chandigarh court asks the government to investigate Ruchika's expulsion. Te PIL is motivated by what India is incensed by - the obvious influence that Rathore exerted to punish Ruchika for complaining about him, and to protect himself from any action.
After Ruchika was expelled, her family continued to be harassed by the police. Her brother, Ashu, was framed for theft and sent to jail. In a police complaint, Ashu says Rathore used to torture him in prison. After Ruchika's death, Ashu was acquitted and released. The Girhotras left Chandigarh.
Rathore went on to enjoy several promotions, retiring in 2002 as Haryana's police chief.
Ruchika's family and friends won a major battle in their 16-year crusade for justice when the police formally accused Rathore of driving Ruchika to her suicide. If convicted, Rathore faces upto 10 years in prison.
Was the school pressured by the policeman who molested Ruchika? The Chandigarh administration says a formal inquiry is in its last stages; the Home Secretary that the report will be made public on Thursday.
The school has denied allegations that it acted on the instructions of SPS Rathore, the Inspector General who molested Ruchika. Instead, spokespersons for the school say that Ruchika has not paid her school fees for several months.
Ruchika's father, Subhash Girhotra, says he was not given any warnings about his daughter's overdue fees.
A Public Interest Litgation (PIL) filed in a Chandigarh court asks the government to investigate Ruchika's expulsion. Te PIL is motivated by what India is incensed by - the obvious influence that Rathore exerted to punish Ruchika for complaining about him, and to protect himself from any action.
After Ruchika was expelled, her family continued to be harassed by the police. Her brother, Ashu, was framed for theft and sent to jail. In a police complaint, Ashu says Rathore used to torture him in prison. After Ruchika's death, Ashu was acquitted and released. The Girhotras left Chandigarh.
Rathore went on to enjoy several promotions, retiring in 2002 as Haryana's police chief.
Ruchika's family and friends won a major battle in their 16-year crusade for justice when the police formally accused Rathore of driving Ruchika to her suicide. If convicted, Rathore faces upto 10 years in prison.
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