Former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala today refuted the charge of shielding former state DGP S P S Rathore in the Ruchika molestation case and blamed his successors Bhajan Lal and Bansi Lal for not acting against the police officer. Chautala who has been accused by Ruchika's father S C Girhotra of protecting Rathore, said he had taken strong action against the officer who had been promoted by subsequent governments. He said during his tenure a departmental inquiry was instituted against Rathore and was later suspended as he was facing charge sheet in the case. <br/>14-year-old Ruchika, a budding tennis player, was molested in 1990 by Rathore, the then Inspector General of<br/>Police in Haryana. She committed suicide three years later by consuming poison. Her family said she took this step after facing harassment from Rathore. <br/>A CBI court held Rathore guilty and sentenced him on Monday to six months rigorous imprisonment. <br/>