Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim was on Monday sentenced to ten years in jail by the Special CBI Court of Panchkula on charges of rape of a female devotee in 1999. The self-styled godman will undergo a medical examination, after which he be allotted a cell in the jail and will be asked to wear a jail uniform.
Ram Rahim had pleaded forgiveness and had sought leniency stating that he was a social worker, who had worked for the welfare of people. However, the prosecution had sought the maximum punishment for the rape convict. The Special CBI judge Jagdeep Singh had given 10 minutes each to both sides to put forth their arguments.
The self-styled godman was convicted on the charges of rape on August 25 by the Special CBI Court in connection with a rape case that was filed in April 2002. An anonymous letter addressed to the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had alleged that the Dera chief had raped the complainant.
Also Read: Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh sentenced to 10 years in jail in rape case
On Friday once the decision was out, Ram Rahim’s ‘bhakts’ went on a rampage in Haryana’s Panchkula and Sirsa. Several people had vandalised public property – by destroying public transport, burning vehicles and even attacking the media.
Although the court has handed over the punishment, Twitter is unhappy saying that the sentence is too lenient for him.
Here is how Twitter is reacting:
Just 10yrs…He should be killed 10 times___…..#FraustatedWithTheLaws#Ramrahim pic.twitter.com/aEczxAHWQn
– Rakesh ponnaboina (@raki737) August 28, 2017
#RamRahimSentencing
Hang him he is not only rapist ,He is murderer too of 100+ peoples in Haryana— abhi (@kumarabhi31) August 28, 2017
Gurmeet Singh gets 10 years for the rape of two women.Should have been separate sentencing for each & consecutive terms #RamRahimSentencing
— Advaita Kala (@AdvaitaKala) August 28, 2017
RT If You Feel 10 Years For Rape Is Not Enough & #RamRahimSingh Must Be Hanged. #RamRahimSentencing #RamRahimVerdict #RamRahim pic.twitter.com/DsIAARpj8x
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadejaaaa) August 28, 2017
#RamRahimSentencing of 10 years is such a lenient penalty against the atrocious crimes he has committed.We need women delivering judgements!
— Sonica (@RaptObserver) August 28, 2017
The Judge should add 10 more years to the Jail Term for RamRahim because of the torture he unleashed through his movies. #RamRahimSentencing
— adah (@SlinkyFeline_) August 28, 2017
So 10 yrs it is for the Rapist Baba,
though life imprisonment would have been more appropriate for this pervert #RamRahimSentencing— Archie (@archu243) August 28, 2017
The order was on Monday passed by the CBI Court in the Sunaria District Jail, where a makeshift courtroom had been created. Ahead of the verdict, Rohtak District Collector (DC) Atul Kumar had said that if any anti-social elements are spotted trying to harm themselves or others, shoot at sight orders will be passed immediately. Movement of vehicles around the Sunaria Jail had also been curtailed and all schools and colleges remained closed.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had directed National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and the Director, Intelligence Bureau, Dineshwar Sharma, to continuously monitor the situation in Punjab and Haryana.
Read More: Special helicopter to AC cell, is Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh getting VIP treatment in jail?
