CBI court on Friday found Gurmeet Singh Ram Rahim guilty of rape. The conviction was pronounced today in the special CBI court of Panchkula and the quantum of punishment will be awarded on Monday. The case is a classic example of how an anonymous complaint letter and Suo moto cognizance of Judiciary can ensure that no matter how alone the victim could be or how powerful the culprit is, Justice is meted out to all. Here is timeline of this entire case
April 2002 – Anonymous letter written to then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee by a sadhvi female disciple alleging that she was raped by Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim.
2002- Punjab and Haryana High Court takes suo moto cognizance of the matter
May 2002: High court directs Sirsa district and sessions judge to probe the allegations in the letter
September 2002: High court hands matter to CBI after district court indicates possibility of sexual exploitation
December 2002: CBI registers a case of rape and criminal intimidation against Gurmeet Ram Rahim
July 2007: CBI files chargesheet against the Dera head in an Ambala court. The chargesheet refers to the sexual exploitation of two ‘sadhvis’ female disciple between 1999 and 2001.
September 2008: The special CBI court frames charges against Gurmeet under sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC
Between 2009 and 2010: Two complainants record their statements before the court
April 2011: The special CBI court shifts from Ambala to Panchkula. The case against the Dera chief also transferred to Panchkula CBI court
July 2017: Special CBI court orders daily hearing
August 17, 2017: Arguments of prosecution and defence concludes. Special CBI Judge Jagdeep Singh fixes August 25 as date for pronouncement of verdict. Gurmeet asked to appear in person before the court the same day
August 25, 2017: The special CBI court convicts Gurmeet Quantum of sentencing to be announced on August 28
This issue has once again strengthened our belief in the judicial system, that how an anonymous letter can ensure that the culprits are taken to the task and sent behind the bars.
It was a tumultuous day on Friday in the aftermath of the pronouncement of verdict in the rape case against Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Singh.It saw unprecedented violence by the Dera Chief’s supporters in Panchkula where the guilty verdict was pronounced by a special CBI court.
The media appeared a soft target while the supporters remained out of control for a large part of the day.This is how the day unfolded ending in chaos and violence that affected Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. The day ended with 29 people dead and over 1,000 people in custody. Several columns of army remain deployed in Panchkula & Sirsa in Haryana as well as Muktsar and Mansa in Punjab.
JUDGEMENT DAY:
2.30 P.M. : Ram Rahim reaches court
After several hours of a slow, winding journey with his entourage which began from the Dera Sacha Sauda’s headquarters in Sirsa..Ram Rahim reached the Panchkula CBI court which was to decide his fate in a rape and criminal intimidation case which was initiated in 2006.
2.45 P.M. : Court reads verdict
There was palpable tension inside and outside the courtroom..Ram Rahim’s supporters, the media and police as well as other security personnel waited outside on tenterhooks as the special CBI judge read out his judgment..those inside the courtroom..instructed to switch off their cellphones.
3.00 P.M. : RAM RAHIM FOUND GUILTY
CBI judge Jagdeep Singh pronounced 50-year-old Dera Chief guilty of rape and criminal intimidation..sentencing will take place on the 28th of August where Ram Rahim could be jailed for 7 to 10 years.
Moments after the verdict is announced, chaos broke out right outside the court’s premises. Ram Rahim’s supporters went berserk attacking the media and police, stone pelting, arson were resorted to. The security deployment hit back with tear gas and lathicharge but the supporters were out of control. Media became a soft target. Journalists were assaulted. Television OB vans attacked and torched.
The violence did not remain confined to Panchkula. It spread to areas like Sirsa where the army resorted to flag march to quell the violence. In Punjab, Mansa, Malaud saw train stations being torched. The Income Tax office in mansa was also set ablaze.
The chaos also spread to the National Capital Delhi where a bus and train were set on fire in the Anand Vihar area. Violence was also reported from some border areas. Prohibitory orders have been put in place in 13 districts of the national capital.
Even in Uttar Pradesh, Curfew like restrictions were put in places like Ghaziabad and Noida even as far as Shamli district.
Chief Ministers of Haryana and Punjab have appealed for calm while saying violence will not be allowed.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh kept a close eye on developments through the day while advancing his return from Kyrgyzstan where he had gone for an Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting. He spoke to the Chief Ministers of Punjab, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan as well as Delhi LG. The HM has called a high level meeting on Saturday while providing all possible assistance to affected states.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court took a stern view of violence ordering seizure of all assets of Dera Sacha Sauda for covering loss to life and property. Haryana govt has also promised to compensate damage done to private property.
Leaving nothing to chance, Northern Railways has cancelled or rescheduled over 200 trains passing through the affected regions.
Strict vigil is being maintained in multiple states even now after putting police and other security forces on alert. It is hoped that better sense prevails and the forces are not required to crack down on anti-social elements supporting the Dera Chief.
FOLLOW INDIAN AWAAZ ON TWITTER