Ruchika's family welcomes verdict; says fight for justice will go on

The usual smirk on his face had vanished as a nervous and physically-wrecked SPS Rathore gingerly stepped out of the courtroom after he was sentenced to 18 months in prison for molesting Ruchika Girhotra.

On the other hand, Ruchika’s father SC Girhotra and Anand Prakash, father of Aradhana Gupta, her friend and the only eyewitness in the case, wore a satisfied look.

With a vengeful exuberance Girhotra said, “God has heard our pain at last. Now, he [Rathore] should be punished for abetment to suicide also.”

As Rathore, accompanied by wife Abha, who has argued his case all through, were being conducted to a police van for being taken to prison, he said, “We are happy to see this happening to him at long last.”  

“Bhagwan ke ghar der hai, andher nahi [God’s wheel of justice might move slow, but it does move),” an emotively charged Girhotra proclaimed.

“We are satisfied with the verdict. This shows no one is above the law in this country,” Pankaj Bhardwaj, the counsel for the Girhotras, said.

Anand Prakash, the main complainant in the case, said, “We will continue our fight against him [Rathore] for his involvement in abetment of Ruchika’s suicide. We want bigger punishment for him.

“He deserves no mercy from any quarter. We are all very happy. We cannot bring Ruchika back, but today her soul will rest in peace. We have won the battle but we are prepared for the war [against Rathore]. We want him to pay for his sins.”