Ruchika was never expelled: Sacred Heart School

Sacred Heart School today denied expelling its student Ruchika Girhotra in 1990, claiming her name was struck off the rolls for non-payment of fees and offered to make available all documents sought by the investigators in the molestation case.

"Ruchika was never expelled from the school. Her name was struck off the attendance register because of non-payment of school fee for six months continuously from April to September 1990," Father Thomas, Spokesman for Chandigarh Shimla Diocese which runs the school, told reporters here.

"It may be possible that her parents had themselves withdrawn Ruchika from the school. We are also cooperating with the investigation and are ready to make available all documents sought by them, subject to availability as these documents are 19 years old," he said.

Ruchika's father had earlier alleged that Rathore used his power to get Ruchika expelled from her school.
    
"Rathore had illegitimately used his influential position to get Ruchika removed from the school. My daughter took admission in that school in nursery class and studied there for 13 years," SC Girhotra had said.

Denying the charges, the spokesman claimed that no fee was paid on behalf of Ruchika for six months from April to September 1990.

Ruchika, then 14-year-old, was molested by Rathore on August 12, 1990 and the budding tennis player had committed suicide three years after the incident.A local court last week sentenced the former Haryana DGP to six months in jail and a fine of Rs 1,000.