Indian ‘godman’ rapist is locked up for 20 years
A CONTROVERSIAL Indian guru has been jailed for 20 years after being convicted of raping two female followers.
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, known as the “godman”, was sentenced to 10 years’ jail for each sexual attack amid claims that scores of other women accuse him of sex abuse.
He also faces court next month on charges of murdering two women at his ashram, or monastery, in northern Haryana state.
Riots between police and his fiercely loyal supporters, in the city of Panchkula after his conviction last week, left 38 people dead. Police feared further protests yesterday as Singh was sent down.
Many followers threatened to harm themselves in public as a signal of belief in him.
A vehicle was set alight by the holy man’s followers before the sentencing. Prosecutors had called for a life term.
Meanwhile, lawyer Utsav Singh Bains said: “We believe there are at least 48 more victims who were sexually abused and who may have been killed or are too scared to come out and testify against Singh.” The 50-year-old is the flamboyant chief of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect, which claims to have more than 60 million global followers.
In 2002, Singh was investigated by police in India for murder and alleged rape but the probe came to nothing.
He has also been accused of forcing 400 of his followers to undergo castration so they could “get closer to God”.
“Rockstar Baba” Singh often wears shiny clothes and has performed in music videos.