Govt looking to reopen case against cop: Haryana CM

NEW DELHI: The Haryana government looks set to revive the abetment to suicide charge against ex-DGP S P S Rathore in the Ruchika Girhotra case while also seeking a stiffer sentence for the molestation complaint than the six months awarded by a trial court.

Chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the case against Rathore, who allegedly unleashed a campaign of intimidation against the Girhotra family leading to Ruchika's suicide, needed to be looked at afresh. "After examining the case legally, I think it should be revisited. The whole issue needs to be revisited," he said.

The CM's comments indicate that Rathore may yet have to face trial for charges that were dismissed by the high court previously. Over the past week, there have been several reports about how the case was manipulated with witnesses threatened and false statements and records created. Reports suggest police acted to suppress evidence against Rathore.

The abetment to suicide charge attracts a much tougher sentence in comparison to molestation and was clearly seen to have been a cause of concern for Rathore going by reports that statements recorded by the police had been fabricated. A fresh investigation with police now acting under instructions to make out a correct case can help establish the Girhotra family's charge that they were ruthlessly hounded by the molester cop.

The rising public outcry and media attention has resulted in CBI also taking a second look at the case against Rathore. The agency is already preparing to challenge the six-month sentence handed out to the former cop. With the cooperation of the Haryana police, it could well build a serious case against Rathore, particularly if destruction and manipulation of evidence is established.