Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Rohtak, August 28
Sirsa Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was on Monday sentenced to 20 years in jail — 10 years each for two rapes that will run consecutively. Special CBI judge Jagdeep Singh announced the sentence in the special court created at the Sunaria Jail here.
He has also been slapped a fine of Rs 30 lakh. The defence lawyer said the court fined the dera chief Rs 15 lakh in each rape case.
Both sentences in dera chief rape cases will run consecutively for a total of 20 years jail, a CBI spokesperson confirmed.
Both the sides were given 10 minutes each to put forward their arguments on the quantum of sentence. The CBI sought the maximum sentence calling it the rarest of the rare case, whereas the defence sought a reduced sentence on health grounds.
Just before the judge announced the sentence, Ram Rahim was in tears and pleaded mercy.
The special CBI court on Friday had convicted the Dera head of rape at the Panchkula district court. He was convicted under Sections 376 and 506 of the IPC and later flown to Sunaria Jail here.
His conviction had led to large-scale violence in Panchkula and Sirsa besides at other places in the region, which left 38 people dead and around 260 injured.
