Victims put Ram Rahim Singh on pedestal, he committed breach of gravest nature: Judge

Rohtak: The victims put Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on the pedestal of God but he committed breach of the gravest nature, a special court said on Monday. 

While observing that a man who has neither any concern for humanity nor has any mercy in his nature does not deserve leniency, the CBI court said such criminal act by one who is stated to be heading a religious organisation is bound to shatter images of pious and sacred spiritual social cultural and religious institutions existing in the country since time immemorial.

"Having due regard to the peculiar fact and circumstances of the case, the court is of the view that if acts of the convict in sexually exploiting his own female disciples and intimidating them of dire consequences is taken note of, then such kind of persons does not deserve any kind of leniency from the court," special judge Jagdeep Singh said in his nine-page, as per PTI.

Dera Sacha Sauda chief was today sentenced to 20 years in jail for rape and criminal intimidation and fined Rs 30 lakh.

The sect chief has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment each in two cases of rape. Both the sentences will run consecutively, his counsel SK Garg Narwana said after the special CBI judge pronounced the sentence in the district jail in Sunaria.

The rape victims will get Rs 14 lakh each as compensation from the fine, Judge Singh, who was flown in a helicopter from Chandigarh, said in the judgment.

The hearing to decide the quantum of sentence started at 2.30 pm today and the judge gave 10 minutes each to the defence and prosecution sides to make their submission, court sources said. 

While Ram Rahim's counsel argued for leniency and minimum punishment saying that he was a social worker and had health issues, the CBI counsel sought maximum punishment given his conduct. The prosecution wanted the case to be treated as "rarest of the rare".

The sect chief's counsel said that the verdict will be challenged in a High Court. 

There was drama inside the special court as Ram Rahim broke down and pleaded with folded hands before the judge.

After the sentence was announced, he sat down on the floor and wept, as per IANS. 

He had to be forcibly taken away by jail wardens to his barrack even as his lawyers tried to seek leniency in prison rules for the sect chief who is used to a life of ultra luxury.

Dera chief was on Friday guilty of rape of two female disciples in 1999. The complaint in the cases was filed in 2002.

He was flown to the Rohtak jail after his conviction and was lodged in the jail (prisoner number 1997). 

The conviction of Ram Rahim in the CBI court in Panchkula had sparked off large-scale violence by his followers which left more than 38 people dead.

(With Agency inputs)