CBI court gives  20 years imprisonment to Dera chief

Rohtak: The CBI court on Monday sentenced the self styled leader of the Dera Sacha Sauda, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for two rape cases. It reiterated that the convict deserved no sympathy due to the “peculiar facts of the case.”

The CBI judge also fined him Rs 15 lakh in each of the two cases, of which Rs 14 lakh each would go to the two victims who were part of his sect and were coerced into having sex with him. The defence counsel sought leniency from the court arguing that Ram Rahim was active in social work and had health issues. He said he will appeal against the orders in high court.

The Dera chief was reportedly in tears as the order was being pronounced by special CBI judge Jagdeep Singh and was pleading the judge with folded hands for leniency.

The sentence was pronounced in the Rohtak jail where the Dera chief is lodged after the Friday sentence in Panchkula court which caused extreme violence and arson by his supporters after their leader was convicted of rape.