Ruchika case: Rathore’s arrest is imminent

The noose seems to be tightening around former DGP of Haryana SPS Rathore. Within 24 hours of getting booked in two new FIRs, Rathore applied for anticipatory bail on Wednesday but was not given relief. The sessions court in Panchkula denied him interim bail and listed his case for hearing on January 1.

With this, the former DGP’s arrest becomes imminent, sources said. Rathore’s wife and counsel Abha sought bail saying they did not receive copies of the fresh FIRs and that the cases were being registered on the basis of old charges, which had already been and settled by courts.

On Tuesday night, two FIRs were registered against the 67-year-old former DGP after Ruchika’s father SC Girhotra accused police of tampering with Ruchika’s post-mortem report and trying to murder his son Ashu. Police booked four persons, including Rathore,  for attempt to murder, illegal detention and forgery in connection with the Ruchika murder and suicide case.

The others are sub-inspector Prem Dutt and assistant sub-inspectors Jai Narayan and Sewa Singh.

The Haryana government on Wednesday announced the setting up of a committee to look into  the charges made against Rathore in the new FIRs. The committee, to be headed by inspector-general of police Shatrujit Kapoor, would  examine the charges against Rathore in the molestation case and subsequent events mentioned in the two FIRs.

Panchkula SP Maneesh Chaudhary said the state government had sought a report from Panchkula police on all cases registered against Ruchika’s brother Ashu.  A total of 11 false cases of theft were slapped against Ashu in 1992 and 1993, but all were dropped after Ruchika ended her life.