Lawyer to file PIL against Ruchika's school

Chandigarh: Punjab and Haryana High Court lawyer Ranjan Lakhanpal on Monday said he would file a public interest litigation against Ruchika's Girhotra's school for expelling her on flimsy grounds.

The school had allegedly expelled Ruchika under pressure from former Haryana director general of police SPS Rathore and can now faces legal action.

"I saw the details of the case on CNN-IBN news channel and that is how Mr Girhotra contacted me and gave me the details of the case. I was shocked to know how his son Ashu was implicated in many false cases and he was arrested also, and tortured and traumatised. Not only him but Ruchika's entire family was tortured and traumatised," Lakhanpal told CNN-IBN.

"Also the way Ruchika was rusticated from the school without any valid reason. All this is unpardonable. Also I feel that the 19 years of delay can't be digested. I am going to file a public interest petition in the High Court seeking action against the DGP for registering all false cases against Ashu. I will also seek action against the school for rusticating Ruchika without any reason, and against all those officials responsible for the delay in delivering justice," he said.

Ruchika was expelled from her alma mater Sacred Heart Convent School for reportedly not paying her fee.

Rathore had physically abused 14-year-old Ruchika, who was also a budding tennis player. She was a student of Class X when the molestation incident took place and was soon expelled by the school management.

Meanwhile, a former joint director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has claimed that Rathore tried to influence them to escape charges of molestation and abetment of suicide in the Ruchika case.

The Union Home Ministry has also showcaused Rathore as to why his President's Police Medal awarded in 1985 should not be withdrawn.

Not only does Rathore, convicted of molesting 14-year-old Ruchika Girhotra, stands to lose his President's Police Medal within the next two months but the Centre is moving fast to reduce his pension.

The former joint director RM Singh has claimed that Rathore tried to influence the investigations by trying to bribe him.

Singh had recommended that the former Haryana top cop be charged with abetment to suicide.