Ruchika case: Rathore's pension withheld in full

After being stripped of his police medal, SPS Rathore's pension has been witheld completely in another blow to the disgraced ex-DGP of Haryana jailed for molesting minor girl Ruchika Girhotra.

"Pension of Rathore, a retired IPS officer of the 1965 batch, has been withheld in full on permanent basis," a home ministry spokesman said in New Delhi on Wednesday while announcing the government's decision in this regard.

68-year-old Rathore, currently serving an 18-month jail term in Chandigarh since May 25 after his punishment was enhanced by a sessions court from a six-month jail term, has moved a review petition before the Punjab and Haryana high court and also sought bail on medical grounds.

The decision for a 100 per cent cut in his pension was taken in view of Rathore's conviction by Chief Judicial Magistrate Chandigarh on December 21 last year in the Ruchika molestation case, he said.

Ruchika, a budding tennis player, had committed suicide three years after being molested by Rathore on August 12, 1990. In January this year, the government had stripped Rathore of his police medal.

Rathore was awarded the police medal in 1985 for meritorious service.