Ruchika case: SC upholds ex-Haryana DGP’s conviction

The apex court, however, granted relief to Rathore and reduced his sentence from one and half years to the sentence he has already undergone. Rathore has spent nearly five months in jail.

A bench headed by justice MB Lokur delivered the verdict.

Rathore moved the apex court after the Punjab and Haryana high court upheld a trial court order convicting the top cop in the criminal case. The HC came down heavily on Rathore and enhanced his sentence from six months to 18 months.

On November 11, 2010, a bench then comprising justice P Sathasivam and justice BS Chauhan ordered Rathore’s release on bail till the final disposal of his appeal.

Ruchika, a budding tennis player, was 14 when she committed suicide in December 1993. She took the extreme step three years after she lodged a complaint against Rathore for his alleged misbehaviour.

Her family said Rathore, who was the IGP at that time, hit back by getting Ruchika’s brother arrested. Ruchika too was expelled from her school within a month of her complaint against Rathore.

The family alleged she was driven to commit suicide because she could not bear the torture her brother was subjected to at Rathore’s behest. After the special CBI court convicted Rathore, the prosecuting agency registered three cases against the former top policeman. These were for abetment to suicide, attempt to murder and doctoring of documents.

However, the CBI has closed two cases, attempt to murder and doctoring of documents, citing lack of evidence. The third one related to abetment to suicide is still pending.