Ruchika's brother says Rathore tortured him

New Delhi: Ruchika Girhotra's brother Ashu had said in his statement before a court that he was mercilessly beaten by Haryana Police officials with the state's former director general of police, SPS Rathore, present during the torture sessions.

CNN-IBN has accessed the affidavit submitted on September 3, 2002, by Ashu Girotra before the sessions court of Patiala in which he has said that police tortured him and Rathore used to supervise the torture sessions personally.

Ashu also identified Rathore in court as the officer who was present and supervised his torture.

He also said Rathore threatened him and his family to try and get Ruchika to withdraw his statements.

According to the affidavit Ashu told the court that he was picked up from his house on October 23, 1993 by people who were in plain clothes.

"They drove me in the jeep to CIA post in Mansa Devi and then the tortured me. After some time Rathore also came there and sat down there. He asked the police officials as to whether they have served (punished) me well. They told Rathore that they would torture me still more," Ashu said in his affidavit.

Ashu also claimed in his affidavit that the police used to tie his hands behind his back used to bend him.

"My feet were tied with a weight. I was kept in this position for 10-15 minutes. A roller was kept on my thing and two people stood on it and it was rolled. The pain was unbearable," said Ashu.

He also added that the officials under the influence of alcohol would beat him mercilessly using their belts and also abused him.

Ashu was reportedly kept in the CIA police post in Mansa Devi and was slapped with 11 cases, most involving him in theft.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court, taking a suo-motu action, had directed the sessions court to inquire into the allegations made by Ashu before it. The statement was recorded by the sessions court as part of the inquiry.

Ruchika, a 14-year-old budding tennis player, was molested in 1990 by Rathore, the then Haryana inspector general of police. The teenager committed suicide three years later by consuming poison.

Rathore was on Monday convicted by a special CBI court on charges of molesting Ruchika and sentenced to six months rigorous imprisonment. Rathore, who got bail, said he would appeal against the verdict.

(With inputs from Arunima)