Rape case: High court dismisses petition of Dera Sacha Sauda head

RAM RAHIM HAD SOUGHT DIRECTION TO CBI TO PROVIDE HIM COPIES OF STATEMENTS MADE BY HIS 2 FORMER FEMALE FOLLOWERS

CHANDIGARH: A Punjab and Haryana High Court bench on Monday dismissed a petition filed by Dera Sacha Sauda head, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh seeking direction to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to provide him copies of the statements made by his two former female followers. The two are alleged victims in a rape case registered against the Dera head in 2002.

The bench of justice AB Chaudhuri dismissed the petition wherein the Dera head had challenged an order passed by the Panchkula special CBI court on October 18 declining his request for the statements of these two alleged rape victims made before then CBI investigating officer KL Raina in 2003.

Ram Rahim had also challenged trial court order of the date wherein his request for deferring further examination of Raina and summoning of both the women was declined.

Though a detailed order is awaited, the high court on Monday dismissed the plea even before issuing notices to the CBI.

The FIR in this case was registered by the CBI on December 12, 2002 on allegations of rape, criminal intimidation and outraging modesty of his female followers at the Dera premises.