Ruchika molestation case: SC upholds former Haryana DGP Rathore’s conviction, but reduces his jail term

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the conviction of former DGP of Haryana SPS Rathore for molesting a minor and budding tennis player Ruchika Girhotra.

The apex court, however, granted relief to Rathore and reduced his sentence from one and half years to the sentence already undergone.On August 20, 1990, Rathore, the then IGP with Haryana Police and president of the Haryana Lawn Tennis Association (HLTA), had molested Ruchika Girhotra, a budding tennis player, in the HLTA office in Panchkula. Ruchika was 14 years old then.

Soon after she registered a complaint, Ruchika was expelled from her school — where Rathore’s daughter was her classmate — for “indiscipline.” Her family also alleged harassment by Haryana Police at the behest of Rathore.

Over 22 years after Ruchika was molested, Rathore was convicted by a Chandigarh court in December 2009 and sent to jail in June 2010. The conviction was upheld by the Punjab and Haryana High Court too.