Forgive me, cries Ram Rahim as judge hands out 20yr sentence

₹30lakh fine also slapped on Sira dera chief for raping his two female disciples, CBI court turns down his plea for lenient sentence; peace prevails in Punjab, Haryana after verdict; mobile internet services to resume today

ROHTAK/CHANDIGARH: A CBI court on Monday sentenced self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, 50, to 20 years in jail and fined him ₹30 lakh for raping two disciples, saying he acted like a “wild beast” and didn’t even spare his “pious” followers.

CBI court judge Jagdeep Singh, who was flown to the district jail in Haryana’s Rohtak where the Dera Sacha Sauda chief is lodged to pronounce the punishment, said the sect leader did not deserve leniency as he had sexually exploited and intimidated his disciples.

“The convict did not even spare his own pious disciples and acted like a wild beast,” the judge said.

The flamboyant dera leader was in tears and pleaded with folded hands for mercy as the judge read out the verdict.

There were no reports of violence or arson after the sentencing, a contrast to August 25 when dera followers ran riot after he was found guilty in the 15-yearold case, leading to 38 deaths.

“It is 20 years in jail for Singh as two sentences will run consecutively with fine of ~30 lakh,” his lawyer SK Garg Narwana told HT. The court also held him guilty of criminal intimidation (section 506 of IPC) of both victims and awarded two years’ imprisonment in each case.

The court set aside the defence team’s plea that Singh should be shown leniency because he was a social worker and was suffering from hyper-tension, acute diabetes and sever backache. “… a man who has no concern for humanity, nor has any mercy in his nature, does not deserve leniency from the court,” it said, ordering both the victims be paid ₹14 lakh each.

Failure to pay would lead to two more years in jail. The remaining ₹2 lakh will towards legal services authority.

During the proceedings that lasted for about four-and-a half hours, Singh said he was unwell and three ambulances were seen moving towards the jail complex. He was examined by doctors, led by the Rohtak chief medical officer, and found to be fine.

After the sentence was announced, Singh sat down on the floor and wept. The burly leader had to be dragged to his barrack. He would be lodged in a high-security cell and would have to do at least five hours of work in jail though it is not clear where he will serve the sentence.