Self-proclaimed godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has been convicted by a CBI court in the rape case, in which he could languish in jail for seven years.
Soon after judgement, the controversial baba was taken into custody by Haryana Police. He’s likely to be moved to Ambala jail, where he will remain until Monday, when the quantum of punishment will be announced.
Soon after the verdict, the supporters of Singh set ablaze and damaged OB vans of several news channels besides setting police vans on fire in Panchkula. They included OB Vans from Times Now and India Today with some reporters suggesting that the protesters ripped apart Times Now’s transponder. Police was forced to fire tear gas shells on Dera protesters there.
There are reports of two stations in Punjab being set on fire while authorities had imposed curfew in Mansa, Ferozpur and Bhatinda.
This after the Dera Sacha Sauda sect head on Thursday night made an appeal to his followers, who had flocked in Panchkula, to go back to their homes, a development which may come as a big relief to security personnel who have been asking them to move out of the town.
Earlier today the controversial godman had arrived in the court in a convoy of more than 100 cars. The government of Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh had made extensive security arrangements fearing violence by Dera chief’s supporters.
An estimated 1.5 lakh Dera followers including men, women and children had gathered in Panchkula, where a CBI court was set to deliver its verdict in a rape case against Dera chief today.
The rape case was filed against him in 2002 by the CBI on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which intervened in light of anonymous letters being circulated alleging sexual exploitation of two ‘sadhvis’ (female followers) by Ram Rahim.
More to follow