Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Ram Rahim Singh Convicted In A Rape Case

August 26, 2017 09:58

(Image source from: Nagpurtoday.in)

Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Ram Rahim Singh Convicted In A Rape Case:- Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has been convicted by a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on Friday. The quantum of sentence will be declared on Monday.

Gurmeet has been taken to Rohtak’s Police Training College in Sunaria by the Haryana Police. Momentsafter Gurmeet’s conviction, violence erupted in Panchkula, Haryana. This had prompted the police to fire teargas shells at Dera protestors. Moreover, to disperse the violent crowds, police also resorted to lathi charge and fired live bullets in the air.

The protesters set out fire on Malout Railway Station and petrol pump in Punjab. Similar incidents were also reported in Bathinda.

Ram-Rahim-Singh

(Image source: PTI Graphics and deccanchronicle.com)

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Amarinder Singh had appealed to “all Punjabis to maintain peace and harmony in state”. “Won’t allow anyone to disturb peace and tranquillity,” he added.

The rape allegations against Gurmeet dates back to 2002, when two of the Dera followers (Sadhvis) wrote a letter to the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The Sadhvis wtote in anonymity alleging that the two were raped by the self-styled godman. The letter also accused Gurmeet of sexually exploiting several of his female followers inside the Dera campus on the outskirts of Sirsa in Haryana.

Taking cognisance of the Sadhvi’s letter, the Punjab and Haryana court instructed the CBI to register a case of sexual exploitation against the Dera Chief in 2002. After a case was registered on December 12, 2002, under Section 376 (rape), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 509 (insult to the modesty of woman) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Chandigarh unit of the CBI launched an investigation. However, he constantly refuted the allegations. He further claimed that he is a faithful follower of the law.

The two sadhvis, in their statements before the court, alleged that they were raped by the spiritual leader. However, one of them justifying the rape said that it would “purify” her. One of them in her statements said the doors closed automatically while he was watching a pornographic film, when she entered the Dera chief’s chambers.

Other accusations which Gurmeet faces are that of murdering a journalist, Ranjit Singh, in October 2002, apart from the 2002 rape allegations. The journalist was investigating the charges against him.