Brinda Karat meets Hooda, seeks harsher action against Rathore

Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Brinda Karat on Saturday met Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and demanded harsher punishment for former top cop SPS Rathore who was convicted in the 1990 molestation case of teenager Ruchika Girhotra.

"We want the state government to be proactive in getting the punishment enhanced (for Rathore) and reopen the case," Karat told reporters after meeting Hooda.

Fourteen-year-old Ruchika was molested August 12, 1990 by Rathore, who rose to become Haryana's police chief. The girl committed suicide three years later. A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special court on Monday convicted Rathore in the molestation case and sentenced him to six months' imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1,000. Rathore was immediately granted bail by the court.

Karat, who is an MP, was accompanied by the parents of Ruchika's friend Aradhana, who was the lone witness in the case.

"The chief minister listened to what we said with some sympathy. He assured us that from his opinion the case should be reopened. What he told us was that he was going to take appropriate action after taking legal advice," she said.

"We also demanded that under his jurisdiction a committee (be set up) which would go into the political patronage given to Rathore and how he got so many promotions," Karat added.

The chief minister assured us that the case would be revisited and "appropriate action" would be taken after taking legal advice.

"There are two aspects of the case - one is criminal and the other is political. Action should be taken against those who shielded Rathore and also his bail should be cancelled and he should be sent to jail," Karat added.