Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan, head of the Haryana-based socio-spiritual organisation Dera Sacha Sauda, has been convicted of rape charges by the CBI court in Panchkula.
The sentencing hearing will be on August 28,2017
Dera Sacha was fighting a case of rape and sexual exploitation of two women who were then, back in 2002, members of his sect in the town of Sirsa in Haryana, about 260 kilometers from Chandigarh.
The case first came to light in 2002 when two female followers of Dera Sacha Sauda wrote an anonymous letter addressed to the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, accusing the Dera chief of sexual abuse. Following this, the Punjab and Haryana High Court took up the matter and ordered a CBI probe into the incident on September 24, 2002.
Timeline of the allegations
2002: Was accused of rape by two sadhvis (women followers). The Punjab & Haryana High Court handed over the case to the CBI later.
November 2002: MSG accused in the killing of Ram Chandra Chatrapati, a 53-year-old editor of Poora Sach (complete truth), an evening daily from Sirsa. The case is still pending in a CBI special court.
May 2007: Charged with hurting religious sentiments by addressing followers in Salabatpura, Bhatinda by dressing like Sikh guru Gobind Singh. He was acquitted in the case.
2010: Accused in the murder of the former Dera functionary Faqir Chand. The CBI closure report stated that there was no evidence against the Dera Sacha Sauda chief.
2014: Was accused of forced castration of around 400 followers. Investigations in the case are still on.
2014: Reports of arms training being given to followers at the Dera emerge. The Punjab & Haryana High Court ordered periodical monitoring of Dera activities.
January 2016: The All India Hindu Students Federation, in a complaint filed with the Mohali police, accused the Dera chief of hurting religious sentiments by dressing up as Lord Vishnu
The sentencing hearing will be on August 28,2017
Dera Sacha was fighting a case of rape and sexual exploitation of two women who were then, back in 2002, members of his sect in the town of Sirsa in Haryana, about 260 kilometers from Chandigarh.
The case first came to light in 2002 when two female followers of Dera Sacha Sauda wrote an anonymous letter addressed to the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, accusing the Dera chief of sexual abuse. Following this, the Punjab and Haryana High Court took up the matter and ordered a CBI probe into the incident on September 24, 2002.
Timeline of the allegations
2002: Was accused of rape by two sadhvis (women followers). The Punjab & Haryana High Court handed over the case to the CBI later.
November 2002: MSG accused in the killing of Ram Chandra Chatrapati, a 53-year-old editor of Poora Sach (complete truth), an evening daily from Sirsa. The case is still pending in a CBI special court.
May 2007: Charged with hurting religious sentiments by addressing followers in Salabatpura, Bhatinda by dressing like Sikh guru Gobind Singh. He was acquitted in the case.
2010: Accused in the murder of the former Dera functionary Faqir Chand. The CBI closure report stated that there was no evidence against the Dera Sacha Sauda chief.
2014: Was accused of forced castration of around 400 followers. Investigations in the case are still on.
2014: Reports of arms training being given to followers at the Dera emerge. The Punjab & Haryana High Court ordered periodical monitoring of Dera activities.
January 2016: The All India Hindu Students Federation, in a complaint filed with the Mohali police, accused the Dera chief of hurting religious sentiments by dressing up as Lord Vishnu
No comments:
Post a Comment