New Delhi:
Nineteen years after he molested a teenager, a former police officer, one of the most senior in Haryana, is finally being treated like a criminal.
On Monday, a court sentenced SPS Rathore to six months in prison. National outrage followed because of what is accepted among experts as a light sentence, and over the fact that the charges against Rathore were mild, given that the girl he molested killed herself three years after he abused her. (
In pics: Six months for a life)
Now, the Home Ministry is reacting to the public campaign against Rathore, who retired as Director General of Police in Haryana is 2002. The Home Ministry is using a showcause notice to Rathore, asking why he should not be stripped of his pension, as also a police medal that was given to him in 1985.
Rathore was an Inspector General and the President of the Haryana Lawn Tennis Federation when he met Ruchika Girhotra, a 14-year-old tennis player. Ruchika's friend, Aradhana, was a witness to Rathore molesting Ruchika.
After Ruchika filed a complaint against Rathore, he retaliated for three years by harassing her family. Her brother was framed for theft and put into prison. In 1993, Ruchika, now 17, couldn't handle the pressure anymore. She killed herself. Investigating officials and policemen agreed at the time that Rathore should be charged with abetment of suicide amounting to murder. Rathore fought this opinion in court, and won. He was then charged with molestation, which holds a maximum punishment of two years in prison.
Sources say the CBI is now considering an appeal for harsher punishment for Rathore.
Ruchika's family lawyer also wants to ask the Supreme Court to reopen the case against Rathore, and include abetment of suicide charges.
(Watch: Will appeal in Supreme Court to reopen Ruchika case: Lawyer)