15 years on, Sirsa ‘godman’ faces judgment day

A CBI court in Panchkula will pronounce the verdict in a case of rape involving chief of Dera Sacha Sauda, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, on August 25, Friday.

2002

April: An anonymous complaint of a woman follower alleging sexual exploitation at the dera reaches Punjab and Haryana high court May: HC directs Sirsa district and sessions judge to conduct an inquiry Sept: HC hands over case to CBI when the district judge’s report indicates possibility of sexual exploitation Dec: CBI books dera chief under sections of rape, criminal intimidation, and acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman.

Dec 2003-Oct 2004: Investigation held up as Supreme Court stays it on dera chief’s petition; the court lifts stay subsequently and asks CBI to continue probe

2005-06: Several investigating officers changed; a new officer Satish Dagar restarts the investiga- tion and starts locating the affected sadhvis July 2007: Chargesheet filed against dera head in the court; it says he raped two followers during their stay at Sirsa dera between 1999 and 2001

August 2008: Trial begins following framing of charges 2009-2010: Two complainants record statements before the court 2011-2016: Trial lingers on as dera head files multiple applications before courts July 2016: Case set for final arguments after 52 witnesses summoned

2017

June: Dera chief directed not to leave the country during trial July 25: Court orders daily hearing Aug 17: Arguments closed and August 25 fixed for pronouncement of orders Dera chief has been asked to be present in court for it.