CHANDIGARH: Though the
promising tennis player Ruchika Girhotra took her life three years after she was
molested, it was her first signed complaint, which was submitted as memorandum
on August 16, 1990 before the then Haryana governor, which acted as the
foundation on which the case was registered and later contested for 19 long
years.
On the basis of this memorandum, which was also handed over to financial
commissioner, home secretary and even Haryana government, an FIR was registered
on December 29, 1999 under section 354 (outrage the modesty). Though defence had
raised an objection on the authenticity of the document, which carried a
detailed account of incidents that happened between August 11, 1990 and August
15, 1990, the trial court, however, found it a 'strong' corroborative piece of
evidence.
"The law is very clear that a fact should be proved by best available evidence.
The witnesses have identified Ruchika's signature on the memorandum... (It) is
direct and primary evidence, therefore, it can be relied upon. The document
penned in Hindi also bores signatures of Ruchika's father and brother.
TOI located this pivotal document buried in a heap of court files. The
memorandum narrates Ruchika's story in her own words. The document claimed that
a few young girls played in tennis court situated in Panchkula's Sector 6. The
president of Haryana Lawn Tennis Association was SPS Rathore and the office was
in the garage of an under construction building.
On August 11, 1990 Rathore visited Ruchika's house and met her father SC
Girhotra. He told him that he should not send Ruchika abroad as she was a very
promising player and that he would arrange special coaching for her. The senior
cop also asked Girhotra to send Ruchika to his office on August 12, 1990 at 12
noon in connection with the same. On August 12, 1990, Ruchika along with her
friend Aradhana went to play at the lawn tennis court and met Rathore.
On seeing both of them, Rathore asked Aradhana to call the tennis coach to his
room. But she returned half way. "Is beech Ruchika ko akeli paa kar Rathore
sahib aisi ginoni harquat pe uttar aye jo manavta ke liye kalank se bhi batar
hai. Apni beti ki umar se bhi choti Ruchika se unhone chadechad ki. (In the
meanwhile, finding Ruchika alone Rathore did a shameful act which is a blot on
humanity. He molested Ruchika, who is younger than his daughter)," the document
claimed.