Veena Claims She Was Married to Ruchika’s Father: Reports

In a new turn to Ruchika molestation case, a ‘mystery’ woman, called Veena, has claimed that she was married to Ruchika’s father SC Girhotra, said media reports.

However, the lawyers and friends of the Girhotra family have dismissed the claim, said reports.

In its report, IANS said that Veena told the special investigation team (SIT) of the Haryana police that she was married to Ruchika’s father between November 1990 to 1995.

IANS reported quoting SIT sources that Veena, married to another person at present and living in Sector 10 in Panchkula, had said during the interrogation that she was married to Girhotra in November 1990, just three months after Ruchika’s molestation by Rathore on August 12, 1990, and separated from him in 1995. Ruchika committed suicide in December 1993.

However, Anand Prakash, father of Ruchika’s friend Aradhana, who has been fighting the case against Rathore for 19 years, and Pankaj Bhardwaj, the victim’s lawyer, have dismissed the fresh development about Veena.

“As far as I know, Girhotra was never married to Veena. This character has been brought into this case by Rathore. I don’t know under what pressure or allurement she is saying all this. If she was his (Girhotra’s) wife, she should come out with proof of the marriage or their divorce,” Anand Prakash said.

Pankaj Bhardwaj said: “Her coming on the scene and claiming that she was married to Girhotra will not impact the case, particularly the charge of abetment to suicide against Rathore.”

Girhotra had all along claimed that he was never married to Veena and claimed that she was a governess in his house.

However, his statement before a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at Patiala and another statement to a Haryana police deputy inspector general of police (DIG) earlier had said that he was married to Veena.

Veena had signed the police inquest report into Ruchika’s death in 1993 as ‘Veena Girhotra’.

While seeking anticipatory bail, Rathore’s counsel and wife Abha Rathore had told the court that Girhotra was making false charges against Rathore and was hiding facts about his marriage to Veena.

Report quoted SIT chief SS Kapoor as saying that the Girhotra family was not cooperating with the SIT investigations into the fresh cases against Rathore.

“We sent many notices and reminders to Ruchika’s father SC Girhotra and her brother Ashu but they have neither approached us nor tried to come to our office till date,” Kapoor, Haryana’s inspector general (security), who heads this seven-member SIT, said.

He added: “We have recorded and examined the statements of all other important witnesses pertaining to this case.”