Controversial guru is jailed for 20 years for raping two female followers
A controversial Indian guru has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for raping two female followers.
The sentences were pronounced amid intense security at a prison in the northern Indian town of R oh takw herethe guru, who calls himself Dr Saint Gur meet Singh Ram Rahim In san, has been held since his conviction on Friday.
Defence lawyer SK Garg Narwana said the guru was sentenced to ten years in each case.
A lawyer for the victims said 50 women had come for ward with allegations of rape and they would be seeking further investigation in the case.
The conviction sparked violent protests by the guru’s followers that left at least 38 people dead and hundreds injured.
Before the sent enc- ing, train and bus services to Rohtakweresuspend ed to prevent the guru’s supporters from gathering in the town, in Har yana state. A curfew was also imposed.
Police said that several layers of security were in place around the prison and that government troops had permission to use firearms if any violence erupted.
All cars entering t he town were searched.
The guru denied raping the two followers, in a case that stems from charges filed in 2002.
Few details were available after the sentencing but the guru’ s lawyers can appeal against the verdict to a higher court.
The charges were investigated by India’s Central Bureau of Investigation, and a special court convicted and sentenced the guru.
The minimum sentence for the charges was seven years and the maximum was life.
The bling- loving guru, who claims to have 50 million fol- lowers, is fond of red leather jackets, bejewelled hats, biceps-baring T-shirts–and cinema. He has started a film franchise in which he stars as the“Messenger of God”, or MSG, with divine powers to save the world.
In his most recent film, he plays asecret agent armed with a twirled moustache and an assortment of swords to fight aliens and UFOS.
Security was high yesterday across Haryana and the neighbouring state of Punjab, with schoolsand offices shut in many places.
A curfew was also imposed in Sir sat own, where the headquartersof the guru’ s D era Sacha Sauda sect are located.
Since Saturday, police have been asking followers to leave the ashram compound, and around 20,000 people have left.
Officerssaid some people were still inside the compound, but that it was impossible to know how many.