Probe team questions school authorities who expelled Ruchika

CHANDIGARH: A probe team tonight questioned the principal of the school, which expelled teenager Ruchika Girhotra molested by a former top police officer, even as Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda hinted the case relating to her molestation and suicide might be handed over to CBI.

The Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Chandigarh Parna Puri went to the Sacred Heart School here this evening and quizzed the principal Sister Sebastian for several hours this evening seeking details about the expulsion of Ruchika, who was molested by former Haryana DGP S P S Rathore, in 1990 and similar other cases.

Ruchika's father Subhash Chandra Gihrotra had alleged former Haryana DGP S P S Rathore, who molested the budding tennis player and got away with a light punishment of six months for the crime, used his clout to get her expelled from her school in September 1990.

Puri, who had yesterday questioned the complainant in the molestation case Madhu Parkash and recorded her statements and that of her daughter Aradhna at their Panchkula residence, quizzed the school authorities at length this evening seeking details of her expulsion.

The team is understood to have sought documents relating to Ruchika's expulsion, the accounts books and attendance register of the school because the school has claimed that she was expelled due to non-payment of fees for six months from April 1990.

Ruchika, then 14-years old, was molested by Rathore on August 12, 1990 and the budding tennis player committed suicide three years after the incident.