Bleeding theory of Ruchika

Aarushi's murder was one of the high profile murder cases (under violence against women's agenda of the news channels). One can recollect Jessica Lal murder in 1999 was also a focus of main stream media at that time. The common line between these two is that the case was almost closed without convicting the known murderer and then the media created a justified pressure to re-open or appeal against the acquittal of the accused. In the second innings of all these cases the murderer was put behind the bars. I can think of – the case of Prathibha (2005 - Bangalore BPO girl murdered by the cabby) which was under intense media pressure but the first judgement itself came against the murderer. He is serving prison till death (rare judgement next only to death penalty). Delhi rape case last year was another example of intense media coverage extreme outcry of public. So far so good. The middle class Indian convinces himself that even if the violence against women is unavoidable in few cases, the culprit is not spared from law.

We have to rewind our memory a little more – Ruchika Girhotra (1990). Ruchika who lost her mother at her young age was a budding tennis player in Haryana. SPS Rathore an IPS officer – what to say about him? Molested Ruchika (Rathore’s daughter is Ruchika’s batch mate in the same school) and had to face some initial actions with an FIR filed against him. But, he gathered some strength from his sources and started his demon-like acts against the Girhotra’s family. He then harassed the family by placing plain cloth police men in front of Ruchika’s house. He arrested the teen age brother of Ruchika, Ashu and tortured him to sign blank papers and filed cases of stolen cars on him. Her brother was paraded half naked in front of his house with hands cuffed. There were Rathore organised mobs in front of Ruchika’s home to shout slogans against them. Rathore influenced the school authorities to expel Ruchika which they did and killed the heart of the teen ager. She consumed poison and found peace. Her father lost peace with his daughter dead and his son in jail (this was two years after the complaint filed against Rathore).  (Facts collected from various internet sites)

Time marched – 19 years. Rathore was promoted to ADGP and later became the DGP. He filed cases against Aradhana (Ruchika’s friend and the only witness of the molestation), lawyers who appeared for Ruchika, Ruchika’s father and brother. All-out attack. The main difference between the cases of 2000s and 1990s is the media coverage. Hardly someone in the 90s would have known about Ruchika’s case, it in fact came to lime light in late 2000s when Rathore was bailed out ten minutes after he was sentenced and created a public uproar in media. Imagine if there was media coverage during Ruchika’s days as we have today – Rathore would have had nightmares in his prison cell.

Lately Rathore served 6 months in jail for what he did 19 years back and now out in bail. He has appealed against his conviction. However, very recently Ruchika’s family stopped their fight against him. Understandable. At 9 PM every day I feel - new channels are entertaining the viewer instead of informing them. Paid news, politically biased – such things are there but still I think wide media presence is giving the wrong doers a sense of fear that they can’t evade forever.