Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh rape case: CBI judge to be flown to Rohtak for quantum of sentencing

A rape case was registered against Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in December 2002 by the CBI.

Chandigarh: CBI Judge Jagdeep Singh will be flown to the Sunaria jail in Rohtak on Monday for the quantum of sentencing of Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the rape case for which he has been convicted.

The government has been told to make all security arrangements at the jail and also to make travel arrangements by air of Singh and his two staff members.

As per the notification issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court registrar on Saturday, following directions from the Acting Chief Justice of the court, "the District Jail, Rohtak at Sunaria is the place for the sitting of the CBI court of Additional District and Sessions Judge, Panchkula, for the purpose of hearing of quantum of sentence...." in the conviction case of the sect chief.

Notification on District Jail,Sunaria as place of sitting of CBI Court, Panchkula for pronouncement of quantum of sentence against #RamRahim pic.twitter.com/V67I3eoiNe

— ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2017

The move comes after Dera followers indulged in large-scale violence yesterday after Rahim`s conviction on two counts in the rape case.

After the verdict, Ram Rahim was also flown to the jail in a private chopper. 

Earlier today, the Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) BS Sandhu had apprised that Dera Sacha Sauda chief would receive the punishment through video conferencing.

Addressing the press conference, Sandhu had said,"Our efforts remain to make judgement possible through video-conferencing, if the court says, then everything will take place in the jail."

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary of Haryana Depinder Singh Dhesi had asserted that no special treatment is being provided to self-styled 'godman' and had added that action will be taken against those personnel who were lenient in their duties during the violence.

"Gurmeet Ram Rahim has not been given special treatment in jail. He has been kept like a normal prisoner. In the whole case, if anyone had done any sort of leniency in his duty, then required action will be taken. After 6:30 pm, neither Panchkula nor other parts of Haryana had faced any violation of law and order. Law and order is being completely maintained in the entire state," Dhesi told the media, as per ANI.

CBI judge Jagdeep Singh had yesterday held Ram Rahim, 50, guilty in a case that was registered on the basis of an anonymous written complaint in 2002 that he had sexually exploited two female followers.

On the basis of the report, a case was registered against him in December 2002 by the CBI on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana HC.

The quantum of sentence against Ram Rahim will be pronounced on August 28.

The punishment can be a jail term not less than seven years but may even extend to life imprisonment.

(With Agency inputs)