In my earlier posts, as I was talking about "Khadi", "Khaki" and fuming disguises about the "Indian laws, bureaucratic systems" among youth in India, this "funny" verdict came (I can't add any other adjective than calling it "funny"...huh) as a slap in my face.
The 14 year old teenager was molested (and committed suicide incidentally) by an ex-DGP (Diector General of Police)...the family fought 19years (can you believe it!) in the court and finally the "poor man"( yes, that what Mr. Ram Jethmalani explained him in an interview at NDTV 24X7) got just 6 months jail and Rs.1000 fine (US$22)! What an efficient uncorrupted system!!
The family went through hell for 19 years...and we call this country as the largest democratic country in the world!
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Ruchika molestation: 6 months jail, Rs 1,000 fine for ex-DGP
Aneesha Sareen Posted online: Tuesday , Dec 22, 2009 at 0849 hrs
Chandigarh : Nineteen years after he allegedly molested a teenaged girl who later committed suicide, former Haryana Director General of Police S P S Rathore was today sentenced to six months rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1,000 for the crime.
Special CBI Magistrate J S Sidhu convicted Rathore of molesting 14-year-old Ruchika Girhotra. Rathore got bail immediately after the order was pronounced and was told to furnish bail bonds of Rs 10,000. His wife and defence counsel, Abha Rathore, stood surety for bail.
In August 1990, Ruchika, a budding tennis player, was allegedly molested by Rathore, then an IG and president of the Haryana Lawn Tennis Association, at his office-cum-residence — Ruchika’s friend and classmate Aradhana was eyewitness to the incident. Traumatised by the incident and subsequent harassment of her family, Ruchika committed suicide by poisoning herself in 1993.
While pronouncing the verdict, the magistrate relied on Aradhana’s statement in court. Deposing as prime prosecution witness, Aradhana, who is now married and settled in Australia, told the court that she had seen Rathore forcibly holding and molesting Ruchika.
“The allegations against the former senior police officer are of moral turpitude which are serious in nature and are particularly against a minor girl. Therefore, the prayer for probation in the case by the accused has been declined,” the magistrate said.
Rathore had urged the court to take a lenient view as he was old and had undergone a valve surgery recently. He said he was under great mental stress owing to media reporting of the incident.
“I have great faith in the judicial system. I will file an appeal ... I am relieved today, thanks to my lovely wife who stood by me, fought the case and gave a strong defence,” Rathore, who retired as DGP, told reporters.
Investigation into the case was handed over to the CBI in 1998. Ruchika’s family moved out of Chandigarh. They alleged they were being harassed by the police in retaliation for the case against Rathore.
Anand and Madhu Parkash, parents of Ruchika’s friend Aradhana, had approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 1997, seeking a probe into the incident after a police report had stated that prima facie there was a case against Rathore. A year later, the case was transferred to the CBI special magistrate.
“I am elated that Rathore has been awarded six months of RI, but at the same time I am sad it took so long to decide on the matter. Had the verdict against Rathore been pronounced earlier, I think Ruchika would not have committed suicide,” Madhu Parkash told reporters.
Her husband Anand Parkash, a retired government employee, said, “I think the quantum of punishment is less... It is not the end of the trial. We will drag to court all police officers and bureaucrats who tried their best to save Rathore. Despite the allegations against him, he was promoted twice and retired as DGP. Is this how the system deals with an accused?”.
Daughter Aradhana said it was Ruchika’s wish that a case be lodged against Rathore. “My mother and father were ready to take up this case. Ruchika’s family too was very supportive, knowing that they would be subjected to harassment.”
Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Ruchika-molestation--6-months-jail--Rs-1-000-fine-for-ex-DGP/557617
I was treated like a dog: Ruchika's brother to court
Fri, Dec 25 05:25 AM
Narrating the inhuman treatment meted out to him by the Haryana Police at the behest of S P S Rathore, Ruchika Girhotra's brother, Ashu, had filed an affidavit in the Punjab and Haryana High Court on December 3, 2001. Ashu was implicated and picked up for six false cases of auto theft — all the charges later fell flat in court.
"Hell was let loose on me. I was treated like a dog. I was slapped, given fist blows and had to further undergo more inhuman torture which I cannot explain in this affidavit. I was not given any food or water to drink for various days. Whenever I used to ask for a glass of water, the police officials used to give me filthy abuses," he said in his affidavit.
Saying that he tried to console Ruchika, who was suffering from depression, he added: "Life was made more miserable for the entire family. Ruchika was literally living under house arrest. As and when Ruchika used to come out of our residence, some mischievous people, who were deployed at the instance of Rathore, used to pass lewd remarks at her. Rathore also made it a point to see that Ruchika did not continue her studies."
The affidavit further states: "I was brutally beaten up by the CIA staff, Panchkula. Rathore was personally supervising the interrogation and directed the investigating officer to beat me till I give up. I was so terrorised that I could not even disclose this to the magistrate. I and my family members have been reeling under tremendous pressure. I was picked up during Diwali. I never thought that Diwali of 1993 would be the most gloomy phase of life wherein I would have to undergo such inhuman treatment. I was beaten up so mercilessly that I could not even walk properly."
Ashu was handcuffed and paraded in the neighbourhood. The "police officers were abusing my sister and father. I was like an animal who was in a cage and was trying to get myself free to save the honour of my family. My father begged the police to be afraid of God and not to inflict this inhuman torture on the family. After a few days, I was told in custody that Ruchika had committed suicide. I was picked up by the police on October 23, 1993 and was released only on December 23, 1993, after the death of my sister," Ashu had informed the High Court.
Source: http://in.news.yahoo.com/48/20091225/804/tnl-i-was-treated-like-a-dog-ruchika-s-b.html
Further reading: http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20091229/812/tnl-chandigarh-administration-initiates.html
http://in.news.yahoo.com/48/20091224/804/tnl-ruchika-s-father-accuses-chautala-of.html
http://desicritics.org/2009/12/22/204720.php
http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/ruchika_molestation_the_case_so_far.php
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Ruchika-molestation-Ex-Haryana-DGP-convicted/articleshow/5362230.cms
Kaustav SenGupta
INgene
About INgene blog : First ever Indian Youth trend Insights blog
About INgene : First ever Indian Youth trend Insights blog:
This blog explores the detailed characteristics of Young-India and explains the finer & crucial differences they have with their global peers. The blog also establishes the theory of “adopted differentiation” (Copyright Kaustav SG,2007) and how the Indian & Inglodian youth are using this as a tool to differentiate themselves from the “aam aadmi” (mass population of India) to establish their new found identity.
The term youth refers to persons who are no longer children and not yet adults. Used colloquially, however the term generally refers to a broader, more ambiguous field of reference- from the physically adolescent to those in their late twenties.
Though superficially the youth all over the world exhibits similar [degree of] attitude, [traits of] interests & [deliverance of] opinion but a detailed observation reveals the finer differential characteristics which are crucial and often ignored while targeting this group as a valued consumer base. India is one of the youngest countries in the world with 60% of its population less then 24 years of age and is charted as the most prospective destination for the retail investment in the A. T. Kearney’s Global Retail Opportunity Report, 2007. With the first ever non-socialistic generation’s thriving aspiration & new found money power combined with steadily growing GDP, bubbling IT industry and increasing list of confident young entrepreneurs, the scenario appears very lucrative for the global and local retailers to target the “Youngisthan” (young-India). But, the secret remains in the understanding of the finer AIOs of this generation. The Indian youth segment roughly estimates close to 250million (between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five) and can be broadly divided (socio-psychologically) into three categories: the Bharatiyas, the Indians & the Inglodians (copyright Kaustav SG 2008). The Bharatiyas estimating 67% of the young population lives in the rural (R1, R2 to R4 SEC) areas with least influence of globalization, high traditional values. They are least economically privileged, most family oriented Bollywood influenced generation. The Indians constitute 31.5% (A, B,C, D & E SEC) and have moderate global influence. They are well aware of the global trends but rooted to the Indian family values, customs and ethos. The Inglodians are basically the creamy layers (A1,A SEC) and marginal (1.5% or roughly three million) in number though they are strongly growing (70% growth rate). Inglodians are affluent and consume most of the trendy & luxury items. They are internet savvy & the believers of global-village (a place where there is no difference between east & west, developing & developed countries etc.), highly influenced by the western music, food, fashion & culture yet Indian at heart.
This blog explores the detailed characteristics of Young-India and explains the finer & crucial differences they have with their global peers. The blog also establishes the theory of “adopted differentiation” (Copyright Kaustav SG,2007) and how the Indian & Inglodian youth are using this as a tool to differentiate themselves from the “aam aadmi” (mass population of India) to establish their new found identity.
The term youth refers to persons who are no longer children and not yet adults. Used colloquially, however the term generally refers to a broader, more ambiguous field of reference- from the physically adolescent to those in their late twenties.
Though superficially the youth all over the world exhibits similar [degree of] attitude, [traits of] interests & [deliverance of] opinion but a detailed observation reveals the finer differential characteristics which are crucial and often ignored while targeting this group as a valued consumer base. India is one of the youngest countries in the world with 60% of its population less then 24 years of age and is charted as the most prospective destination for the retail investment in the A. T. Kearney’s Global Retail Opportunity Report, 2007. With the first ever non-socialistic generation’s thriving aspiration & new found money power combined with steadily growing GDP, bubbling IT industry and increasing list of confident young entrepreneurs, the scenario appears very lucrative for the global and local retailers to target the “Youngisthan” (young-India). But, the secret remains in the understanding of the finer AIOs of this generation. The Indian youth segment roughly estimates close to 250million (between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five) and can be broadly divided (socio-psychologically) into three categories: the Bharatiyas, the Indians & the Inglodians (copyright Kaustav SG 2008). The Bharatiyas estimating 67% of the young population lives in the rural (R1, R2 to R4 SEC) areas with least influence of globalization, high traditional values. They are least economically privileged, most family oriented Bollywood influenced generation. The Indians constitute 31.5% (A, B,C, D & E SEC) and have moderate global influence. They are well aware of the global trends but rooted to the Indian family values, customs and ethos. The Inglodians are basically the creamy layers (A1,A SEC) and marginal (1.5% or roughly three million) in number though they are strongly growing (70% growth rate). Inglodians are affluent and consume most of the trendy & luxury items. They are internet savvy & the believers of global-village (a place where there is no difference between east & west, developing & developed countries etc.), highly influenced by the western music, food, fashion & culture yet Indian at heart.
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