Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram had a meeting here on Wednesday with the family members of the victim of molestation by the former Haryana Director General of Police, S.P.S. Rathore. The discussions centred on the possibility of reopening the case as two fresh FIRs were filed against the guilty, who has already been convicted by court.
“The Minister has sought more ‘key documents’ …, which would be provided to him at the earliest,” family lawyer Pankaj Bhardwaj told reporters after the hour-long meeting. Mr. Bharadwaj, accompanied by the victim’s father and her friend’s father Anand Prakash, briefed Mr. Chidambaram on the developments in the case since 1990.
The victim’s father told reporters that he was hopeful of getting justice now.
Mr. Bharadwaj said there were so many ways to reopen the matter under Section 306 (abetment to suicide). “We are still thinking as to which is the best line to reopen the case.” Mr. Chidambaram wanted to know about a few documents, and the best remedy that could be there to re-open the case. “I narrated the entire sequence since 1990, and things that can be done under the law were discussed,” he said.
Absolutely satisfied
Mr. Bharadwaj said the Ministry had the power to take up any matter to its logical end. “We are absolutely satisfied with the meeting. The Minister knew every fact of the case, though he wanted to know something more. We told him everything. He is well aware of the harassment of the family and related issues.”
The victim’s father said Mr. Chidambaram gave him a patient hearing and was sympathetic towards him. “All politicians and bureaucrats who are responsible for not filing the FIR and not taking appropriate action that time should be booked. They should take action against the former DGP on the FIR registered yesterday [Tuesday].”
He said his family was uprooted from their house, and the career of his son was ruined and they should be compensated for all the sufferings in the past 19 years.
The meeting came a day after the government registered two FIRs against Rathore, charging him with serious offences.
Union Home Secretary G.K.Pillai and senior CBI officials were present at the meeting. Asked when the case is likely to be reopened, Mr. Bhardwaj said the Minister would talk to his officials, and “maybe, we will be called again.”