Case hinges on sadhvis’ testimony
CHANDIGARH: In its probe spanning five years, the CBI contacted 150 women followers (former and present) of Dera Sacha Sauda to file a chargesheet in 2007 accusing the Sirsa-based sect head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh of sexually exploiting his female disciples.
In its 25-page chargesheet, the agency told the special court that some of “sadhvis” (female disciples) claimed that “the der a chief, management and followers were dangerous people and they apprehended threat to their life if they speak out the truth.”
But it found only two ex-followers, who not only deposed before it, but also during the trial.
“Investigations conducted by the CBI has thus disclosed that Gurmeet Ram Rahim... raped (X sadh vi) in August 1999 and thereafter in 2000 and under threat of dire consequences to her and her brother… (name withheld) ...not to disclose anything about the incident to anybody. Further, G ur meet Ram Ra him ... also raped (sadhviY) o nth ed era premises in September 1999 and also threatened her with dire consequences if she told anything about the rape to anybody. Thus, Ram Rahim committed offences punishable under Section 376 (rape), 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Pen al Code ,” CBI chargesheet hadstated.It listed 28 prosecution witnesses, including probe officers and judicial officers, and 14 documents.
Initially, 130 female disciples contacted at the dera declined to open up but later some gave some accounts, read the chargesheet. “As of those who had left the der a between 1997 and 2002, a total of 24 were contacted. Of them ,18 could be traced and examined. Three sadhv is had gone back to the der a and other three could not be traced,” said the CBI.
The two former disciples were among the 18 who had left the dera.
The CBI cited lie-detection report of three accused as crucial. “The polygraph test of accused Avtar Singh, Inder Sain and Kris han L al conducted at Central Forensic Laboratory, Chandigarh, and New Delhi showed deception in their statements,” reads the chargesheet. All three were part of the inner circle of the dera chief.
CBI TRACED 18 SADHVIS WHO HAD LEFT THE DERA BEFORE 2002 WHEN THE FIR WAS REGISTERED