Panchkula (Haryana), Dec 28 (IANS) Aradhana, staunch friend of Ruchika Girhotra, has launched an online signature campaign to garner support for reopening of her dead friend’s molestation case.
“We have started a signature campaign in which we are collecting signatures of people who are in favour of reopening of the case. Besides, to associate people who are sitting at far away places, we have created an e-mail address ‘joinaradhna4ruchika@gmail.com’,” Aradhna, lone eye-witness in the case, told IANS.

She has been fighting to get justice for Ruchika ever since she was molested by S.P.S. Rathore, former Haryana top cop who has been sentenced to a six-month prison term. He was, however, granted bail immediately.

Aradhana said she and her family members are planning to launch a widespread campaign to ensure harsher punishment for Rathore.

“We are looking forward to forming an association of like-minded people and to initiate a widespread campaign against Rathore. We would also fight against other social evils like child abuse and women molestation,” she said.

Aradhana said: “We are trying our level best to make sure that the case is reopened and abetment to suicide charge against Rathore is added. Only stripping of medals and honours is not enough, we want to see Rathore behind bars.”

A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Chandigarh had Dec 21 held Rathore, former Haryana director general of police (DGP), guilty of molesting 14-year-old Ruchika in Panchkula town Aug 12, 1990 and sentenced him to a six-month prison term. However, he was immediately granted bail.

The budding tennis player had committed suicide three years after the incident.