New Delhi: After lots of violence and protest all over in Haryana this Self-styled spiritual guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has been finally sentenced to 10 years in prison by CBI special court for the rape of two women followers.
Judge announced 10 years of imprisonment and Rs 15 lakh fine each in two cases. Rs 14 lakh each to be paid to both victims,” SK Narwana, Ram Rahim Singh’s lawyer, told media.
“Total sentence is 20 (10-10) years, both sentences not consecutive but sentence of 376 and 506 would run concurrently,” Narwana added.
The 50-year-old chief of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect wept as he was sentenced at a jail in Haryana’s Rohtak by Judge Jagdeep Singh, who flew down by a government helicopter to conduct a prison-side court hearing.
Thousands of soldiers are guarding the prison and the army is on stand-by. No civilians are being allowed within 10 km of the prison. Over a lakh of Ram Rahim’s followers had gathered in Panchkula, where he was convicted on Friday, and they erupted in violence that left 38 people dead and over 200 injured.
Ram Rahim’s lawyers, who today pleaded for a lighter sentence in view of his philanthropic work, have said they will appeal in a higher court. The CBI, which had sought a life sentence has said it will push for more punishment; sources in the agency said they have already moved an application for a longer prison term.
The Dera chief will be sent for a medical examination and then will be given a prison uniform and will be allotted a jail cell. Since Friday, when he was flown from Panchkula to Rohtak in a luxury helicopter, Ram Rahim occupied a special cell and was given bottled water and was allowed an assistant, amid massive criticism.
Thousands of paramilitary troops and anti-riot police have blocked off all roads in the area. Military sources said the Army can enter Rohtak in about an hour if needed. Barbed-wire barriers have been erected and residents have been warned to stay indoors in Rohtak. All schools and colleges in Haryana were closed today.
Large gatherings are banned in the city. Mobile internet services remain suspended. Senior members of Ram Rahim’s Dera Sacha Sauda sect were placed under detention as a precautionary measure.
